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o 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 



One thousand copies of this book 
have been printed from type and 
the type distributed. 



Andrew Ellicott 



His Life and Letters 



f BY 



CATHARLNE VAN CORTLANDT MATHEWS 



ILLUSTRATED 




THE GRAFTON PRESS 

Publishers New York 



F^ 



0^ 



UE«ft'^v'irco?i«REss| 

\wi) G >'es HeuB't'ed t 

APR" 20 1908 

CKSVS8 4 MC. !H0, 



^Copyriffht, 1908 
By The Grajton Press 



PREFACE 

It has Ions; been the desire of the descendants of Andrew 
EUicott that a record of his life and work should be made 
in the definite and permanent form of a biography. This 
has been felt to be a I'ecognition which is justly due to the 
useful and enduring nature of most of his public work. 

Except for a brief statement of the main facts of his life 
given in the Genealogy of the Fox, Ellicott, and Evans 
families ; a short but excellent biographical sketch in StuarCs 
Civil and Military Engineers of America ; and a few stray 
newspaper articles relative to his work on the surveys and 
plans of the city of Washington, no really adequate account 
of Major Ellicotfs cai-eer has hitherto found its way into 
print, and thereby, into public notice. This book therefoi-e 
presents foi- the most part entirely new material, and is taken 
largely from a mass of valuable and interesting papers, 
letters, diaries, and docunients of various sorts, which are in 
the possession of Mr. Ellicott D. Curtis and other of Major 
Ellicotfs descendants, and which have ne\er before been 
published. 

Especial mention should be made of Mrs. T. K. Alexander 
of Washington, D. C, who, besides the many papers and 
journals of Major Ellicott which are in her possession, has 
collected many documents relative to his part in the surveys 
and plans of the District of Columbia. 

The thanks of the author for kindly advice and assistance 
given are due to Mr. Henry W. Lanier of Doubleday, Page 
& Co., to Mr. John B. Church of Geneva, N. Y., and to 
Dr. Richard B. Coutant of Tarrvtown, N. Y. 

New York, January, 1908. 



CONTENTS 



Chapter Page 

I. Parkntage and Early Life. 1754-1784 .... 3 

Birth — Education — Inherited Mechanical Ability — Marriage — 
Commission in KIk Ridge Battalion — P.arly Surveys — Appointed 
to complete "Mason and Dixon's Line" — Receives Degree of 
M. A. from the University of Williamsburg. 

II. Baltimore and the VV'estern Boundary of Penn- 
sylvania. 1785 31 

Moves to Baltimore — Completes the Pennsylvania- Virginia Boun- 
dary — Is commissioned to run the Western Boundary of Pennsyl- 
vania— Work in the Wilderness —The Survey is completed to the 
90th Milestone — Visits Philadelphia and is received by Benjamia 
Franklin, 

III. Three Boundaries and the First Measurement of 55 

Niagara. 1786-1790 

Represents Baltimore in the Maryland Legislature — Elected a 
Member of the American Philosophical Society — Runs the North 
Boundary of Pennsylvania — Is appointed to complete the West 
Line of Pennsylvania from the 90th Milestone to Lake Erie — 
Surveys the Islands in the Ohio and Alleghanj' Rivers — Moves to 
Philadelphia— Receives a "Certificate" from Benjamin Franklin 
— Appointed by the United States Government to run the Western 
Boundary of New York — Visits Canada — Discourteous Treatment 
by the British — Sees Niagara and takes the First Actual Measure- 
ments of the Falls and River. 

IV. The City of Washington in the Territory of 81 

Columbia. 1791-1793 

Major Ellicott is ordered to Survey the Site of the Capitol City — 
The Ten-Mile-Square — Succeeds Major L'Enfant— Completes the 
Plan of the City — Friction with the Commissioners — Ultimate 
Triiunpli — General Washington's Opinion as to the Importance of 
his Work. 

V. The Road to Presqu'Isle Fort. 1793-1795 . . . 105 

The "Pre-emption Line" at Geneva — The Road from Reading to 
Presqu'Isle — A Dangerous Mission — Indian Hostilities — Estab- 
lishment of the Towns of Erie, Franklin, Warren and Waterford, in 
Pennsylvania — Return by Way of Pittsburgh. 



viii CONTENTS 

Chapter Page 

VI, The Florida Boundary. 1796-1800 ..... 127 

The Pinckney-Godoy Treaty — Major Ellicott commissioned to 
survey the Bomidary between the American and Spanish Pos- 
sessions — Journey to Natchez — By Way of Pittsburgh — And 
down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers — Arrival at Natchez. 

VII. The Florida Boundary {Continued) 149 

Official Hindrance — A Year's Delay — Dissatisfaction of the 
Citizens of Natchez — Evacuation of the Forts — The Commence- 
ment of the Boundar}' — Ceremony of Signing the Reports at 
New Orleans — The Coasting Voyage begun — Creek Indians 
show Hostility to the Survey — Colonel Hawkins — Pensacola — 
Encounter with Mr. Bowles — Fort St. Marks. 

VIII. The Florida Boundary {Continued) 179 

Major Ellicott sails around Florida in the " Sally " — Meets with 
'' turtlers and wreckers " — The Island of Matanza (Slaughter) 
— His Provisions are stolen — The Shooting of the Stars — The 
"Sally" captures a "Spanish prize," and is brought to by a 
Privateer — Arrival at St. Marys — "The Mound in the Okefo- 
noke Swamp " — Arrival at Savannah — Return to Philadelphia. 

IX. The Land Office of Pennsylvania. 1800-1812 . 199 

A Year of Rest — The Publication of the Journal — Offer of 
Surveyor-Generalship — Is appointed Secretary to the Land 
Office of Pennsylvania — Moves to Lancaster — Correspondence 
with Distinguished Men — Captain Meriwether Lewis — Baron 
de Humboldt — Removal from the Land Office — Commissioned 
to run the Boundary between Georgia and North Carolina — An 
Arduous Survey — Captain Lynch of Lynch-Law Fame — The 
Survey finished — Return to Lancaster. 

X. West Point and the Last Surveys. 1812-1820 227 
Appointed Professor of Mathematics at the United States Mili- 
tary Academy — Moves to West Point — Congenial Occupation 
and Sufficient Salary — Appointed by the Government to make 
Observations for Determining the 45th Parallel of Latitude — 
Goes to Montreal — Passes the Cedar and La Chine Rapids by 
Boat on his Return — Letters from Albany and Burlington — 
Death at West Point, 1820. 



Index 249 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Andrew Ellicott Frontispiece 

Reproduced from a contemporary pencil sketch now in the 
possession of his great granddaughter, Mrs. Frank 
Douglas, of London, England. 

Facing Page 

Ellicotts Upper Mills with " Fountain vale " at 

THE right 6 

Reproduced from a wood-cut showing the buildings as they 
were in 17 9L 

The Quaker Meeting House at Ellicotts Mills, 

Maryland 10 

Built by the Elhcott family about 1760, and still standing 
in 1908. 

Rt. Rev. James Madison, D.D 20 

First Bishop of Virginia. 

Map of Baltimore about 1792 32 

Reproduced from the original in the library of the Maryland 
Historical Society. 

Sarah Ellicott 44 

The wife of Andrew Elhcott, from a miniature now owned 
by Mrs. Charles B. Curtis, of New York. 

Certificate of Membership in the American 

Philosophical Society . 56 

Reproduced from the origmal now in the possession of Mrs. 
Charles B. Curtis of New York. 

A Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Andrew 

Ellicott 70 

Reproduced from the original in the possession of Mrs. 
Charles B. Curtis. 

The City of Philadelphia about 1778 82 

Reproduced from a print in the hbrary of the Pennsyl- 
vania Historical Society. 

The City of Washington, D. C. in 1800 .... 90 

Reproduced from a steel engraving by Heath, published in 
1804. From an original in the Library of Congress. 

Plan of the City of Washington, D. C 100 

From a copy of the original plan by Andrew Ellicott. 



X ILLUSTRATIONS 

Facing Page 

Commission issued to Andrew Ellicott .... 128 

Directing him to run the boundary line between Florida 
and the United States. From the original in the posses- 
sion of Mrs. T. H. Alexander. 

View of Ellicotts Mills, Maryland 132 

Reproduced from a hthograph in colors printed in 1854, now 
owned by Mrs. Wallace de Witt, of Erie, Penn. 

Pittsburg about 1800 150 

Reproduced from a map in Mehsh's "Travels in the United 

States." 

New Orleans in 1798 162 

Reproduced from an old print. 

Andrew Ellicott 164 

From a miniature painted in New Orleans in 1799, now 
owned by Mrs. Charles B. Curtis of New York, his great 
granddaughter. 

A Letter from Andrew Ellicott to his Wife . . 166 
Reproduced from the original now in the possession of 
Mrs. Charles B. Curtis of New York. 

A Seal used by Andrew Ellicott . 167 

Drawn and enlarged from impressions on his letters of 1785. 

Benjamin Rush 176 

Reproduced from a steel engraving by J. B. Longacre, after 
a painting by Sully. 

David Rittenhouse 206 

Reproduced from a steel engraving by J. B. Longacre, after 
the painting by C. W. Peale. 

" Fountainvale " AT Ellicotts Mills, as it was in 

1890 214 

From a photograph. 

Certificate of Andrew Ellicott's Appointment as 
Professor of Mathematics at West Point . . 230 
Reproduced from the original in the possession of Mrs. 
Charles B. Curtis. 

Andrew Ellicott's Diary 236 

Reproduced from the original now owned by his great grand- 
daughter, Mrs. T. H. Alexander of Washington, D. C. 

Map of the United States in Andrew Ellicott's 
Time, showing the Places he visited and the 

important Cities 248 

Engraved especially for this work. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 

CHAPTER I 

PARENTAGE AND EARLY LIFE 

1754-1784 

There is a growing tendency on the part of the present 
generation toward an increasing appreciation of the men 
— whether they were soldiers or statesmen, pioneers or 
settlers, men of science or men of letters — who in the 
early days of the nation made of their lives, their courage, 
their aspirations, and their talents, stepping-stones to the 
greatness of the America of to-day. The growing interest 
in what these men accomplished, and how they accom- 
plished it, shows a realization, full of hope for the coun- 
try's future, that the strength and worth of individual 
effort is the test of the nation's worth as a whole. 

The latter half of the eighteenth century was exceed- 
ingly rich in its men. The list is long of the soldiers, 
statesmen, jurists, men of public affairs, who came for- 
ward as their country had need of them. It was less 
rich in scientific men of distinction, and for this reason, 
the names of such men as Franklin, Rittenhouse, Priestley, 
Elhcott, and a few more hke them stand out on the annals 
of that half-century with a pecuHar prominence, and the 



4 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

biographies of these men hold the attention quite as closely 
as those more brilhant pages which record the trimnphs or 
the defeats of the military and naval heroes of the nation. 

" The memoirs of Andrew Ellicott," wrote the president 
of an American college, " will form a valuable addition 
to the history of our country, taking us away from the 
beaten ground of battle-fields and Senate Chambers and 
Cabinets, to the services which science can render in the 
settlement of a new country." It was justly said. Andrew 
Elhcott was among the first of those men whose scientific 
and mathematical attainments were used for the public 
benefit, and whose work was of permanent value to their 
country. He was a surveyor, an astronomer, a mathe- 
matician, and when the nature of his pubhc work so re- 
quired, he was a soldier and a diplomatist as well. Even 
in his youth receiving appointments of importance, " with- 
out the help or favor of any one " (as he was proud to 
record in a letter written in his thirtieth year), he early 
succeeded in inspiring a complete confidence in his abil- 
ity, exactness, and integrity. He was employed through- 
out his whole life, by both the Federal Government and 
the individual States, to settle vexed and difficult ques- 
tions of boundaries and State lines, to lay out to\\Tis and 
cities, and to survey new roads through the wilderness, 
at a time when a highway had all the importance of a 
railroad of to-day. The boundary work required tact 
and diplomacy as well as the most exact mathematical 
knowledge, while the laying out of future cities neces- 
sitated that he should possess not only judgment and 
practical common-sense, but also a fine foresight as to 
possible conditions, which, even though non-existent in 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 6 

his day, must nevertheless meet with his most careful 
consideration. 

The problems he was required to solve were many and 
difficult, and the record he has left behind him is one of 
hard work well and often brilliantly done. Whether what 
he accomplished for the Government is read of in the 
histories of the United States or in the unassuming words 
of his own letters and diaries, this one fact is equally 
impressive, that the country has always had need of the 
man of science, and that, without the services he has always 
been able to render her, she would be far from having 
the solidity she can boast to-day. 

It has been said that genius which implies a com- 
bination of high faculties tends to be inherited, and in 
view of Andrew Ellicott's indisputable possession of a 
combination of high faculties, it is not surprising to find 
that his father, Joseph Ellicott, was remarkable in his 
day for a variety of mechanical and scientific attain- 
ments, and that the whole Elhcott family as far back as 
1600 had shown in each generation a marked inventive- 
ness and a knowledge of mathematics above the ordinary. 

The account of the setthng of Andrew Ellicott's pro- 
genitors in America is brief though romantic. In 1731 
one Andrew Ellicott of Devonshire, England, an influen- 
tial member of the Devonshire Society of Friends, meet- 
ing with some business reverses at home, came with his 
eldest son, Andrew, to make a visit in Bucks County, 
Pennsylvania.^ It was by no means the intention of the 
elder Elhcott to settle in this country, and when his wife, 

* Bucks County was one of the three original counties established by 
William Penn in 1682, 



6 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

whom family tradition describes as a woman of great 

goodness and intelligence, wrote the following lines on 

their departure, she Httle thought that she was not to 

see her husband again. Her verse, in reality a prayer, 

runs thus: 

" Through rocks and sands 

And enemies hands 

And perils of the deep. 

Father and son 

From Collosston 

The Lord preserve and keep." 

Andrew Ellicott's reason for making this visit to 
America is not known, although it is alleged that it was 
to be a visit only; but while here the younger Andrew, 
then about twenty-three, met and loved Ann Bye, daughter 
of a landed proprietor of Buckingham township. Being, 
so runs the story, overwhelmed with grief at the thought 
of leaving her, he persuaded liis father to remain on this 
side of the water, and they chose for their future home 
a place of about fifty acres on the main road between 
New York and Philadelphia, about five miles from Doyles- 
town, the county seat, and very near Buckingham Meet- 
ing House, where, romance being triumphant, the younger 
Elhcott married Ann Bye in 1731. His choice was wise. 
Ann Bye was a woman of remarkable character, of fine 
physique, and possessed of a superior mind. She had a 
skill in medicine, a valuable possession in those days, 
which brought her no little fame in the surrounding 
country. She became the mother of five sons, all men 
of intelligence and fine appearance. Joseph, her eldest 
son (father of the Andrew Ellicott with whose life we are 
occupied), was perhaps the most gifted of the five, though 




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ANDREW ELLICOTT 7 

they all appear to have shown great mechanical skill and 
business ability. 

Joseph Elhcott was born in 1732. He " attained to 
some degree of eminence in the arts and sciences," and 
he possessed a knowledge of mechanics, together with a 
decidedly clever abiHty to turn that knowledge to prac- 
tical account. He was High Sheriff of Bucks County in 
1768-69, was a member of the Provincial Assembly, and 
enjoyed the friendship of Franklin and Rittenhouse. 
Added to his skill in mechanical contrivance of other 
sorts, he had a talent for clock-making, and had seri- 
ously studied this delicate art while on a visit to England 
in 1766. On his return home, he constructed a wonderful 
musical clock, from the making of which he derived much 
pleasure. This clock is still in existence. 

Joseph Ellicott married early in life. His wife was 
Judith, daughter of Samuel Bleaker. Owing to an in- 
heritance of land in England, which he sold at a large 
figure, he was placed in very comfortable circumstances, 
and enabled to give his children a somewhat better educa- 
tion than he had himself obtained. But he could bestow 
nothing on his son Andrew so valuable as the gift for 
mathematics and science which was to raise him to such 
eminence in his profession. 

Andrew Ellicott was born January 24, 1754, in Bucks 
County, Pennsylvania, and it is probable that he secured 
the rudiments of his education at the little Quaker school 
in the township of Solesbury. Later he studied in Phila- 
delphia and under Robert Patterson,^ to whom he affec- 

* Robert Patterson, born in Ireland in 1743, came to Pennsylvania in 
1768. He served in the Continental Army during the Revolution. In 1779 



8 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

tionately refers at a later date as " the preceptor of his 
youth and at all times his disinterested friend." 

While it is unquestionable that Andrew Ellicott was 
fortunate in being even for a time under Robert Pat- 
terson's guidance, he owed most of his success to the 
quahties which were his inheritance. The genius for 
mathematics, the good judgment, the strong family affec- 
tion, and, not least, the fine physique which stood him in 
such good stead in the vicissitudes of climate to which he 
was more or less exposed throughout his life, all came to 
him from his father, Joseph Ellicott. 

The tastes of father and son ran in like channels 
always, and before Andrew was fifteen his father was 
trusting him to assist in the making of the musical 
clock. This complex specimen of clockmaking art is 
described as having " a case of mahogany, in the shape 
of a four-sided column, about eight feet high, each side 
of which is neatly finished ; on the capital of this pillar 
is the clock, with four faces, being designed to set in the 
middle of the room. 

" On one face is represented the sun, moon, earth, and 
the planets, all moving in their different orbits as they 
do in the heavens. On another face are marked the sec- 
onds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years (the years 
representing one century), all having their different hands 
pointing to the true time. Also the image of the moon, 
by which its age and apparent light are registered. On 

he was elected Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania, 
and occupied that chair for thirty-five years. In 1805 he was appointed 
Director of the Mint by President Jeiferson. He was President of the 
American Philosophical Society from 1819 until his death in 1824. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 9 

a third face are marked the names of twenty-four musical 
tunes, being favorite ones of the times before the Ameri- 
can Revolution. In the centre of this face is a pointer, 
which being placed against any named tune, repeats it. 
The smaller cylinder plays a tune every hour, the larger 
one every three hours. The smaller cylinder before strik- 
ing the hour, the larger one after striking the hour. 
On the fourth face is to be seen, through glass, the 
curious mechanism of the clock." 

It is easy to imagine the interest of Joseph Ellicott's 
flock of children (he had nine in all, of whom Andrew was 
the eldest) in the wonderful clock and the astonishing way 
in wliich it could play " The Lady's Anthem," " Ballanca's 
Strain," " The Lass with the Delicate Air," " Captain 
Read's Minuet," " The Hounds are all Out," and " Wil- 
lingham's Frolic," together with eighteen other tunes, all 
equally popular at the time. But the really remarkable 
thing is that a lad of fifteen was trusted to assist at so in- 
tricate a piece of work. It argues no little faith in An- 
drew's ability on the part of his father, and is an assurance 
that he must early have given proof of the trustworthiness, 
exactness, and skill which so distinguished him in after 
life. 

The agricultural hfe of Bucks County ^ offering no 
opportunity for the use of the peculiar mechanical ability 
of the family, Joseph Elhcott and two of his brothers, 
in 1760, made a horseback trip through the middle States, 
with a view to locating mills on some advantageous site. 

* A curious and interesting account of life in Bucks County at the time 
of Andrew Ellicott's birth is to be found in Day's " Historical Collections 
of Pennsylvania," pp. 155-157. 



10 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Ten years later they bought a large tract of land in 
Maryland, on the Patapsco River, about ten miles west 
of Baltimore, and established there extensive mills, known 
respectively as Ellicott's Upper and Lower Mills. In a 
division of the property, the Upper Mills fell to Joseph 
EUicott, and he built himself a mansion (which he called 
" Fountain vale "), furnished it handsomely, and sur- 
rounded it with a large and beautiful garden. In this 
garden was a fish pond, as well as a constantly flowing 
fountain, the water for which was conveyed underground 
in iron pipes from an unfailing spring on higher ground. 
From this fountain the place took its name. 

Much that was of lasting public benefit is ascribed to 
the clever and inventive Ellicott family, who never sought 
to protect by patent the many useful devices their in- 
genuity suggested. Their flour mills were quickly fol- 
lowed by cotton mills, the cotton mills by an iron foundry. 
They opened offices in Baltimore and owned a wharf there. 
Quick and easy transportation becoming a necessity of 
their prosperity, they interested themselves in the promo- 
tion of the Baltimore and Fredericksburg Turnpike, the 
building of the bridge over the Monocacy River, and the 
Cumberland Road, — this latter a turnpike of consider- 
able importance. They built school-houses for the children 
of their employees, and a Friends Meeting House at Elk 
Ridge Landing. 

One of the family, John Ellicott, put up the first roll- 
ing mill and blast furnace erected in Baltimore, and he 
is said to have been the first person in this country to 
utilize the waste heat arising from the gases evolved in 
the blast furnace as an agent for the economical genera- 




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ANDREW ELLICOTT 11 

tion of steam. This John Ellicott was of the opinion in 
1789 that the time was approaching when " roads would 
be so constructed and adapted to machinery that steam 
cars would roll their rapid wheels from city to city " ; 
and about the same time he was actively interested in the 
construction of a steamboat of his own invention. Un- 
fortunately for him his experiments in this direction came 
to an untimely end, — the exploding of the boiler of this 
boat resulting for the inventor in the loss of his right 
arm. 

The first experiments ever made in this country in the 
use of plaster of paris as a fertilizer were made by the 
ElHcotts at the Upper Mills. They introduced the use 
of the " elevator," the " conveyor," and the " hopper 
boy " in milling. They also substituted marking by 
stencil plates for the old method of branding by hot irons. 
Practical inventions and the general progress of science 
and mechanics seem to have been of absorbing interest 
to them always, and Andrew Ellicott was brought up 
in an atmosphere which did much to foster his unusual 
talents. 

Having secured his education and feeling himself able 
to establish a home of his own, Andrew Ellicott was 
married, December 31, 1775, at Newtown, in Bucks 
County, Pennsylvania, to Sarah Brown, whose father was 
a prominent " Friend," and a cousin of Jacob Brown, the 
"Fighting Quaker" of the War of 1812. The young 
couple went at once to the Ellicott colony in Maryland. 

In 1778, although military service was in direct oppo- 
sition to the principles of the Society of Friends, Andrew 
Ellicott was commissioned by Governor Johnson of Mary- 



12 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

land, first, Captain, and later, Major, in the Elk Ridge 
Battalion of Militia. That he accepted this commission 
is not the only thing that goes to show that, while respect- 
ing the Quaker principles, he was not in entire sympathy 
with their outward manifestations. He never used the 
"plain language" (thee and thou), in either speech or 
writing, never dated his letters First or Second Month, 
as is the Quaker usage, and after attending the Quaker 
Quarterly Meeting in 1786, he writes : " Our meditations 
were only interrupted once. Mine turned upon that 
easy sum for the Quadrature of a Circle found out by 
Mons. Leibting," naively implying that the one interrup- 
tion was to him a hindrance to mathematical reflection 
instead of an aid to spiritual meditation. 

Where the question of war was concerned, the elder 
Ellicotts were tenacious of their peaceful principles, yet 
in the Revolution, " they early espoused the cause of 
Independence in heart and soul. No Tory blood ran in 
the veins of a single Elhcott. Although they belonged 
to the peaceful Society of Friends, and were not expected 
to march to the bloody field, yet in all the ways that 
a peaceful citizen can serve his country in time of war, 
they were ever among the foremost in the land." This 
testimonial to their patriotism adds that "Andrew Elh- 
cott, the son of old Joseph Ellicott, transgressed the 
principles of Friends to serve his country by becoming 
a Major under General Washington."^ 

Many years after the Revolution, Andrew Ellicott, 
David Rittenhouse, and Bishop Madison of Virginia be- 
came engaged in a lively discussion concerning the doc- 

^ From the Howard District Press, 1847. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 13 

trine of Friends in regard to war, in which Major EUicott 
(by tliis title he was always known in later hfe) insisted 
that in regard to defensive war the Friends were all wrong. 
The incident seems to show that his maturer judgment 
approved his years of military service, and his joining 
the Elk Ridge Battalion appears to have been the de- 
liberate expression of his personal convictions, rather 
than a hot-headed impulse of his youth. 

From the time of his marriage in 1775, Andrew Elli- 
cott's life became publicly active and crowded with work 
and responsibility. One survey of importance after an- 
other occupied him, and his long life of usefulness was 
to know but little leisure. 

Toward the end of the year 1781 he published " The 
United States Almanack for the Year of our Lord 1782; 
Being the Second after Leap-Year, and the Sixth Year 
of American Independence." " By Andrew Ellicott, Esq." 
is below in type modestly small, and the little publication 
contains much information of various sorts, with facts, 
weather, and verse curiously mingled, after the engaging 
fashion of the almanacs of the period. It refers, on one 
page, to " our last year's Almanack," but of this latter, 
or its predecessors, if any, no trace remains. 

As may be imagined, American Independence being yet 
so young, many of the Almanack's historic dates and 
facts deal with British defeats and American victories, 
and not the least clever and curious of its varied contents 
is the " Prognosticks, &c. of the Allegany Philosopher." 

" This great Sage," it begins, " as mentioned last year, 
lives on the other side of the Allegany Mountain, a place 
favourable to longevity, where he enjoys the most perfect 



14 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

health. Tho' he has counted ninety-nine revolving years, 
his judgment is nervous and sound, and his ideas of 
philosophy unimpaired. 

" This Sophist informs us, that Mrs. Britain, at tliis 
time, continues in a very low, lingering, languishing con- 
dition; her pulse, indeed, sometimes beats high, but the 
strongest efforts which she makes to keep up her im- 
portance, seem to arise from a sudden flow of animal 
spirits, and like the spasms of convulsion, are to be con- 
sidered as injurious to the machine which is agitated by 
them. The disorder in her bowels, with which she has 
been for some years afflicted, gains ground; but she is 
most alarmed at the inflamed state of her extreme parts; 
and, indeed, they have so unpromising an aspect, that it 
is doubtful whether all the coohng medicines prescribed 
by her ablest physicians will be able to prevent amputa- 
tions. The old lady exhibits the most striking symptoms 
of an inward decay, and is, evidently, hastening to her 
dissolution, though the precise moment, by the planets, 
cannot be ascertained. Her constitution is so much de- 
bilitated by severe shocks of various kinds (and particu- 
larly injured by that dreadful distemper the King's Evil,) 
that it is impossible she can survive them, without a 
miraculous revolution in her favour. With a broken con- 
stitution, and a bad habit of body, she must never expect 
to do what she has done. His sentiments concerning her 
recovery are every hour more and more confirmed, when 
he thinks of the frequent application which has been made 
of the lancet; for though phlebotomy may be highly ser- 
viceable in certain circumstances, the stoutest patient in 
Christendom may, hke a devoted pig, be blooded to death. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 15 

" He farther informs us that, by the most acute observa- 
tion of the planets, she will be forced to acknowledge this 
year, in the fullest manner, the Independence of these 
United States, which will be recognized by all the powers 
of Europe; when heaven-born Peace, with her balmy 
wings, will pervade this con^allsed country, and heal the 
desolations that war has made." 

Month by month the Almanack goes quaintly on ; we 
learn on the same page that they were to " expect hard 
thunder " on the 13th of June, and that " The tears of 
compassion are sweeter than dewdrops falling from roses 
on the bosom of the Spring." 

In December we are told that: 

" As all to change and dissolution tend, 
Poor Almanacks, even they must have an end." 

And so, with a recipe for pickling hams, a brief sermon 
on the text of Job v. 7, and a hst of the justices of the 
Supreme Court of New Jersey, the Almanack of Andrew 
EUicott Esq. for the year 1782 comes to a close. 

Records of his earlier surveys were not kept, and it 
is not until ten years after his marriage that we have 
the first of those letters and diaries which tell the story 
of his life so simply and so unassumingly that the biog- 
rapher cannot do better than to let them speak for him. 
They form a clear and fascinating picture of the men 
and manners, the country and the State of Andrew Elli- 
cott's day, while through even the briefest of them, shines 
out the character of the man himself, in all its simphcity, 
integrity, and kindliness. Between the lines of almost 
every scrap of manuscript he has left behind him, may 



16 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

be traced the quiet, sensible courage, the quick and keen 
observation of men and things, the tremendous capacity 
for hard work, and the complete indifference to the lures 
of wealth or fame, which seem to have been recognized 
by all who came in contact with him as the most charac- 
teristic qualities of the man. 

In the summer of 1784 he was at work upon a boundary 
survey of importance, and he writes to his wife from the 
" Very Border of the Wilderness " — in the first letter 
of his which is preserved to us : ^ 

"DeAuSai^LY "July 2d 1784. 

As my Health is thy first concern, I have the Pleasure 
of informing thee of my good State at present, I am 
as Hearty or more so than ever; but I do not hke the 
Country— I shall write a long Letter in the Course of 
a few days— I saw Abraham Doan and his Cousin Hetty 
brought to Goal,^ with two other Robbers they have com- 
mitted notorious acts of Villany on the Frontier, one of 
their Company was Killed in Robbing a House in the 
neighbourhood, where I was — Give my kind respects to 
Mammy Brother and Sisters, and beheve me to be with' 
the greatest Esteem thy Loving 

Husband." 

^ This is the only letter in which Major Elhcott used the " plain lan- 
guage." In none of his other letters or manuscripts does the "thee" and 
"thou" appear. 

^ The Doanes were a noted family of outlaws at the time of the Revolu- 
tion; the father was a Quaker and a respectable man, but his six sons as 
they grew to manhood became a gang of desperate outlaws and cattle thieves, 
notorious upon the frontier for outrages of all sorts upon their neighbors. 
— Day's " Historical Collections of Pennsylvania," p. 160. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT IT 

" On the Summit of Moxint Welcome July 30*11 1784. 
" My Dear 

We have finished our Houses and are now living very 
comfortably on the Top of the highest Mount in this part 
of the World ; our Observatory is in good order, and 
Well Stored with Instruments ; my Companions are vei-y 
agreeable Men, and I think we enjoy all the Happiness 
that people in our Situation could expect— It is now one 
month since we left the inhabited part of the Country— 
. . . The following is a True Picture of Our living 
We brakefast between 6 and 7 
Observe the Sun's Altitude between 7 and 10 
Dine between 12 and 1 after which we always drink 
our two Bottles before we leave the Table 
Then Observe the Sun's Corresponding Altitude— 
At 6 we have a large Bowl of Wine Sillybubb — 
This rule we never break- We have each of us a 
Coxa— 

We drink our Tea about 7— And sometimes ob- 
serve the Heavens greatest part of the Night. 
You and our Dear Children are never out of my mind, 
^and I remember with the greatest pleasure that com- 
panion of my Bosom, whose chief study hath ever been 
to make me happy— . . . About the last of October I shall 
set off for Home— every day, till that Time will be as long 
as a month spent with you 

I am Dear Sally thy Lo^^ng 

Husband." 

The companions whom he mentions as " agreeable " 
were Dr. James Madison, President of William and Mary 



18 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

College, and later the first Bishop of Virginia ; Robert 
Andrews, a man of prominence in public affairs, and John 
Page, a friend of Jefferson, and afterwards Governor 
of Virginia. These three, together with himself, had been 
appointed by the State of Virginia to complete the survey 
of the boundary between that State and Pennsylvania, 
carrying on the line of Mason and Dixon (famous later 
as the dividing line between slavery and freedom), which 
Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon had been forced by 
the Indians to abandon, unfinished, in the summer of 
1767.^ Confusion between the people of the border, as 
to where Virginia began or Pennsylvania ended, as well 
as to the more important question of under whose laws 
and jurisdiction they held their homes, had reached such 
a state in 1779 that Commissioners met in Baltimore, and 
as a result of the meeting, recommended that " Mason 
and Dixon's Hne be extended due west five degrees, to 
be computed from the river Delaware for the southern 
line of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian line from the 
western extremity thereof to the northern limits of the 
said state be the western boundary of Pennsylvania for- 
ever." This was made a law, and stands to-day. 

After some lines, not entirely satisfactory, had been 
run by local surveyors, four Commissioners of prominence 
were appointed by each of the two States in 1784 to 
settle the affair in good earnest: by Virginia the four 

' The Indians complained " that ah-eady a great path came from the 
Northward, with many people, wagons, and horses, another big path came 
from the East by the rivers, and if a path were made over the mountains 
to the Westward, the game would go with it, and the Indians would suffer." 
They were, as well, greatly alarmed at the strange instruments of the EngUsh 
astronomers which they thought " bad medicine." 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 19 

mentioned above, Madison, Andrews, Page, and Ellicott, 
while Pennsylvania sent as her representatives. Dr. John 
Ewing, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, John 
Lukens, Surveyor General of Pennsylvania, Thomas 
Hutchins, afterwards styled " Geographer of the United 
States," and David Rittenhouse, already distinguished 
in Europe as well as at home for his astronomical genius. 
That Andrew Ellicott, a young man of thirty, not a 
resident of the State which appointed liim, and who was 
able to say he had not the help or favor of any one, should 
have been chosen to act with these seven eminent men 
shows that his ability was early recognized. 

Dr. Madison and Mr. Page having left the field after 
a certain portion of the work was at an end, the boundary 
line was carried to completion by Mr. Andrews and Major 
Elhcott. It was for the latter's skilful accomplishment 
of his share of the work that the College of William and 
Mary ^ gave him the degree of Master of Arts, mentioned 
in his next letter to his wife. 

« Dear Wife " Sept. 16th 1784. 

On Monday next we Shall leave this Place, and begin 
to run the Boundary Line between Virginia and Penn- 
sylvania— This Country is very healthy, but always wet 
— we have been almost dayly involved in Clouds since we 
came to this Mountain on the 13^^ day of August Last— 
The University of WilKamsburgh have gave me an 
honorary Degree of Master of Arts— I am every minute 
thinking about you, and our dear Children, and praying 

* The College of William and Mary at Williamsburg, Virginia, is the 
oldest college in the United States, Harvard excepted, and at the beginning 
of the Revolution it was the wealthiest. 



20 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

the Divine Ruler of the Universe to take you under his 

Care 'till my Return, I have much calculation on 

hand this Morning, and therefore under the necessity of 
cutting this Short- 
Dear Sally your 

Loving Husband. 
I have 3 Little Fawn-Skins to make the Children Stays. 

A. E." 

" In Our Tent neae Beeson- 
" My Dear Town October 3^ 1784- 

I received your Affectionate Letter .... I am exceed- 
ingly distressed at the sickness which you experience at the 
Mill- My feelings are Particularly hurt by reflecting 
on the Trouble which will nescessarily fall to your Lott— 
The greatest consolation which I have in this Back-Coun- 
try, is in reflecting that the All- Wise, disposer of Human- 
Events, had Preserved you and our Dear Children, from 
the surrounding Sickness and Death— ... I intend being 
at Home the first Friday in November.- If the weather is 
good (6 or 7 days preceding)— you will probably meet 
me on the Road, if you Ride up towards Dossey's Tavern 
on that Day— a Meeting that would be more Joyfull to 
me, than the Greatest Estate, or Most Superb Title 
this Country can bestow- . . Nothing but Sleep draws 
my reflections from you, and our little Babes ; and my 
constant prayer is that you, and they, may enjoy the 
Health which I do, and that such a long seperation may 
never again take place 

I am My Dear Your Affec- 
tionate Husband. 

My Chest of Clothes I shall send away Tomorrow." 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 21 

The survey went forward as rapidly as its difficulties 
would permit, and a fragment of one of Major Ellicott's 
diaries, whose first date is November 9, 1784, records the 
progress of each day, including his journey homeward. 

November 9^^ 1784 

This morning tho very Cloudy I went with our Hands to 
the Elevation mentioned yesterday— Soon after we got there 
the Hemisphere was filled with fine rain and mist which not 
only obscured the Vistas to the East, but rendered all 
Knowledge of the Country useless each made use of his 
own Ideas to find the Encampment and every person got 
compleetly lost but by an unaccountable good fortune we 
all got in before dark— the Pennsylvanians were more un- 
fortunate three of their men got Lost yesterday and lay 
out all last night 

10. this morning went with the joint Hands to the 
unfortunate Elevation and tho Cloudy with some rain 
finished the Vista fixed up the Mark— then went to a second 
Elevation and began another Vista— M^. Rittenhouse and 
Col. Porter got lost and were brought in by the firing 
of Guns— Rain and some Snow 

11. Finished the Vista mentioned yesterday fixed 
up the Mark and went to a second Elevation and de- 
termined the Direction of the Line and began falling 
the Timber— This Day moved our Camp— Cloudy and 
rain all Day— some Snow. 

12. Finished the Vista begun yesterday put up the 
mark and went on to another Hill of a most stupendous 
Height— the Prospect is noble and romantick— from 
this mountain we could Trace our Parallel of Latitude 
for 40 Miles— which to a mathematition is a prospect the 



9S, ANDREW ELLICOTT 

most pleasing of any other— fine rain and snow prevented 
our setting up any marks which put an end to our oppera- 
tions about 1 oclock PM— the remainder of the Day M^. 
Andrews and myself Viewed the romantick Banks of the 
South Fork of Fish Creek 

The most remarkable Curiosity is a rock of upwards 
of 100 Yards Long 50 feet thick and 15 Yards wide 
Broke from its Base and Tumbled many Feet down the 
Precipice It appears to have happened about 20 Years 
ago probably occasioned by an Earth-Quake If we can 
have clear Weather for two Days we shaU compleat our 
opperations for this season— The sun has shined but twice 
since this day Week and then but a few minutes He 
is deprived of his Beams more than half the season in 
this Country.— 

13. Heavy Rains all last Night which yet continue and 
will probably all Day— The Hills which compose this Coun- 
try are so exceedingly High that when it rains in the Val- 
lies or rather Crevices or Chinks it Hails or Snows on the 
Elevations, this observation is intended only to include 
Spring and Autumn— 

About 10 OClock it ceased raining and M^ Andrews 
and myself went to the Elevation with our Hands and 
began to open the Vista in a short time we were joined by 
the Pennsylvanians— we fixed up our marks and finished the 
Vista by % oclock P.M. The rain then began to fall so 
plentifully that we were oblidged to return to our Encamp- 
ment— This Day five months I parted with my affectionate 
Wife and family in order to join in the Execution of this 
Important Business— . . . 

14. Being Sunday we moved our Camp to within 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 23 

two miles of the Observatory which we expect will be our 
Last Moving on this Line— Two days will in all proba- 
bility finish the Parrellel of Lattitude- some nights past 
I found myself troubled with a smart Fever occasioned 
by continually being exposed to the Rain which has been 
falling every Day and night since Monday last- This 
Country will one time or other exceed in Grazing the 
continual rains keep up the Life of Vegetation and supply 
the Plants with a great Sufficiency of Juices— 

15^^. This Day to our great Satisfaction we finished 
the Wood Cutting of the 5° West Longitude and dis- 
charged all our Hands in the Evening it only remains 
to measure 1' 75" of Time East from the meridian of 
our Observatory to compleat the Business of the season 
this in all probability will be executed tomorrow- Cloudy 
with Squalls of Snow all day— 

16. This morning we all went to the Observatory 

in order to measure East from our meridian we 

then fixed the South West Corner of Pennsylvania which is 
a Squared White Oak Post unmarked standing some 
Chains East of the West End of the Vista- The Comple- 
tion of this Business has given me the greatest Satisfaction 
possible not merely on account of the Accuracy but the 
prospect of a speedy return to my Affectionate Wife and 
Family who are continually in my mind- Tomorrow we 
shall set off for the Inhabitants and proceed to our good 
Friend Jacob Beesons and refresh some Days before we 
mount the mountains- Cloudy with squalls of Snow. 

17^^. This morning about 4 OClock we packed up 
our Beds and Blankets and about day Light set off for 
the Inhabitants- about sun down we got to Jackson's- 



M ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Fort— Cloudy the sun shined about 1 Hour— We had an 
Elegant Supper provided and spent the Evening in Philo- 
sophick Sociabihty— 

18. Rained all Last Night and continued untill about 12 
OClock. After Dinner we set off for the Widow Seatons 
after we Left the Fort about ^ of an Hour the Rain 
began to fall plentifully and continued untill we got to 
our intended Quarters— the Pennsylvanian Commissioners 
went to Coll. McClaries— This Country exceeds anything 
I could suppose for Cloudy Weather and Rain— I intend 
to advance a Conjecture to account for it if the Inclemency 
of the Weather should detain me the Course of one Day 
in the IMountains ; but why in the mountains ? that thou 
shall know when I advance the Conjecture— Mr. George 
Seaton is lately from below he informs that the sick- 
ness still rages with much malignity— I fear for my 
Family ; but rest assured of the goodness and Justice of 
the Decrees of the Deity— My Companion Doc*^ Andrews 
is while I am now writing putting on a solemn phiz & 
Ceremoniously Christening Children which of us is the Best 
employed would be hard to determine— .... A Methodist 
Preacher is in Company with us this Evening he appears 
to be a man of few Words— His name is Cooper— The 
Methodists are a Sect of Christians with whom I am but 
little acquainted in the main I am inclined to Judge 
favourably of them— this one Circumstance is much in 
their favour. Clergymen and Preachers of any denom- 
ination are scarce the People but httle acquainted with 
the true principles of Christian Religion and the want 
of Money on this side of the ]\Iountain deters the Ministers 
of this Faith who teach for pecuniary Reward from 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 25 

coming among them— The methodists on the other side 
of the mountain to remedy this make up a sum of Money 
to defray the nessessary expences and send some of their 
Preachers out here who stay six months at a time and 
teach without reward— The Person now by me is one of the 
six on this station he came out last June about the same 
time I did— 

19. Rain 'till about 10 OClock after which the sun began 
to shine, we then packed up our Beds and Blanketts and 
proceeded to Beeson-Town where we arrived about 6 OClock 
P.M.- I find myself much rejoiced at the Prospect of once 
more returning Home and enjoying the Pleasure of Domes- 
tick-Happiness— my Ambition is nearly satisfied— I have 
without the Intrest of Friends or Relations or my own 
application been appointed to various posts— nominated 
by the State of Virginia one of their Commissioners 
on this important Occasion— applied to by Congress to 
assist at the Division of the new States— and presented 
by the University of Williamsburgh with the Degree 
of M.A. 

20^^^. Rain at this Place ; but snow on the mountain, 
which is distant 4 or 5 miles- some of the Fruit-Trees 
I observe are yet Green under the Hill, and the Top of 
the Laurell Ridge tip't with the Robe of Winter - — .... 
I now number my days with as much solemnity as Steines 
Prisoner in the Bastille— so much is my mind fixed on 
Home— This Afternoon is remarkably stormy the Wind 
High and Chilling and the Rain extreme Cold. I have got 
my Horses shod and intend leaving this Place next Tues- 
day My Servant John C. Roth both offends and 

pleases me his great affection for Baccus hurts him; but 



26 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

his drollery sometimes raises a Smile which obliterates 
his failings- I value any Animal capable of giving me 
Pleasure- 
Si. Stormy all last Night- .... the day Squally with 
High Winds- in the afternoon after finishing my mathe- 
matical Exercise I went to the Methodist Meeting- One 
M^. Todd from Maryland was the Preacher- at this Meet- 
ing I met with an old School-mate a son of M^. Hugh 
Smith of Bucks County— .... 

22^1. . . . Settled all our Accounts with our Friend 
Jacob Beeson : — As I was riding through the Town about 
10 OClock I met with a Face that appeared Familiar- the 
owner addressed me by name upon recollection I recognized 
George Mitchell— he formerly went to the same SchoU I 
did- .... 

23^. After Brakefast we packed up our Blankets and 
about 10 OClock began our Journey, at 1 OClock we found 
ourselves on the Top of Laurell-Hill- Although this was 
the first morning we saw Ice below the mountain Winter 
appeared here with all Its attendants— The Ice would 
almost bear our Horses the Wind extreme cold- and Snow 
now falling the Roads much worse than they were ever 
known before after travelling 11 miles we took up our 
Quarters at one Mr. Daughertie's— 

24. Before Day this Morning we eat Brakefast and 
began our Journey about Sun-Rise— the Weather extreme 
cold and the Roads bad to a degree before unknown the 
ground covered with Snow which hid the Mud-Holes and 
rendered Travehng not only tedious but dangerous . . . 
About 5 OClock P. M. we took up our Quarters at one 
M^. Mountains, at 4 OClock we passed the Memorable 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 27 

West Line began by Mess^^. Mason & Dixon and com- 
pleated by us this Season and verified by the most exact 
Astronomical Observations— M^. Mountain has a Suffi- 
ciency of Liquors and Provisions but falls short in the 
Article of Bedding- he has but three one Occupied by 
himself and Wife one by the small Children and the Other 
by the Bar-Maid— for this last I endeavoured to stipulate 
for my fellow Traveller and colleague the Rev*^ Doc*'^ 
Andrews on account of his late ill state of health but she 
Absolutely refused having any thing to do in a Bargain 
in which he was concerned alledging that he had tied so 
many Knots and finished so many bad Bargains which the 
Parties would gladly dispense with if they could that It 
was dangerous to meddle with him— I then requested a 
part for myself the other she might occupy herself if she 
pleased to this she objected I then offered her my Blankets 
and Sheets to this She agreed with pleasure I then told 
the Doc^^ the Bed was his and gave him my title but the 
Hussey immediately Reniged and reclaimed the Bed- We 
then concluded to spread our Blankets and Sheets before 
the Fire- this we performed and lodged amidst an Heterp- 
clite of all the Characters of the Mountains— 

25 Began our Journey before Day-light— .... 

we passed the highest Ridges of the Allegany about 21 

OClock P.M in the Evening we took up our 

Quarters at one M^. Tittles and have a large open House 
to ourselves 

26. At day hght we settled our Bill and mounted 
our Horses .... about 9 OClock we made the foot of the 
Allegany at the Junction of the Maryland and Virginia 
Roads- .... at this Stage we Brakefasted and then my 



28 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Colleague and self took an Affectionate farewell he goes 
by the way of Winchester to Williamsburgh— he is a Sensi- 
ble lively Companion and a good man— about 12 OClock I 
got to Wills Creek the Chmate is quite altered and I laid 
aside my Cap— In the Evening I made Old-Town and put 
up at M''. Simpkins— my Friends in this Place flocked about 
me as if I had been raised from the Dead— .... 

ST*'^ proceeded on my way— . . . about Sun set 

I got to Hancocks-Town— ... I find myself now almost 
clear of the Mountains. I have now seen them in Ex- 
tremes. I saw them last June cloathed in their Various 
foliage and I have now seen them crowned with Snow— dur- 
ing the whole of this change I have been seperated from 
my Family by complying with the duties I owe to my 
Country; but .... in no time have I been a Stranger 
to the soft emotions raised by reflecting on my Domestick 
Happiness and anticipating my return to an aged Mother 
an Affectionate Wife and small Children added to Brothers 
Sisters and a number of Friends— 

28. Early in the Morning I set off and got to Coneco- 
chegue about 12 OClock which I forded though very high 
about the Middle of the Afternoon I reached Hagers-Town 
and put up at the Gen. Washington— passed the Evening 
with Daniel Hughes Esq'^ Col. Gibson Doc*? Young and 
some others— 

29. About 10 OClock I left Hagers-Town and pushed 
on for Frederick-Town which place I reached about Sun 
Down and put up at Cap*. Morriss's Tavern. . . . 

30*-^. Early this morning I left Frederick-Town and 
arived at Home about Eight OClock in the Evening and 
Found my Wife and little Children alive though in a bad 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 29 

state of Health one of the Children had been a long time 
in a Languishing state and no Hopes of its recovery; 
but I find myself truly thankfull to the Father of Mercies 
Who has preserved them and myself for an Interview 
on this side the Grave- 



CHAPTER II 

BALTIMORE AND THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF 
PENNSYLVANIA 

1785 

In April, 1785, Major Ellicott moved with his little 
family to Baltimore, where he had a house on the east 
side of Liberty Street. The continued ill-health of his 
wife and children while on the Patapsco led to this change 
of residence. One of his children, his little son George, 
had continued, so writes his father, " wasting away until 
the 17*^ of March and then left this uncertain Life for 
one more durable," and he adds this touching little sen- 
tence, " For two Months I was scarcely ever from it." 
Shortly after the loss of this little boy, he says that 
he leased his property at Ellicott's Mills, and " removed 
the remaining part of my family to my House in Town." 
The address of a letter to his wife, written on his next 
absence from home, is : 

" Mrs. Sarah ElHcott 

Baltimore Town near 

the Chapel on Church Hill." 

They were scarcely settled in this new home, when 
Major Ellicott again left for the field, to complete the 
last season's survey, and to undertake a new one. This 



32 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

was to run the west line of Pennsylvania from the Ohio 
River north to Lake Erie. In the words of the com- 
mission, he was appointed by the State of Pennsylvania 
as " a commissioner in conjunction with David Ritten- 
house and Andrew Porter, Esquires, or either of them, 
or such other Commissioner or Commissioners as may 
be appointed by Council, to run and mark the Boundary 
of this Commonwealth from the River Ohio where it 
crosses the same to the Northwest Corner of the State." ^ 
On hearing of liis appointment. Major Ellicott immedi- 
ately wrote as follows to " His Excellency John Dickinson " 
at Philadelphia: 

" Sik/ 

By a Letter which I received from Mr. Rittenhouse 
dated the 28th of April, I understood that the Executive 
Council (at the Head of which you preside), have ap- 
pointed me one of your Commissioners to run the Western 
Boundary of your State over the Ohio ; — As I have been 
employed in favour of Virginia on this business to that 
River, I find I can attend with conveniency afterwards 
in favour of Pennsylvania. . . . 

I have the Honour to be 
Your Excellencies 
Hbl Servt 

Baltimore Andrew Ellicott." 

May 4, 1785. 

Beeson-Town was to be the meeting place of the Bound- 
ary Commissioners for the season of 1785, — their joint 
report of the previous season's work having ended in 

* Extract from the minutes of the Executive Council, Philadelphia, 
May 5, 1785. 







" .So 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 33 

these words : " The advanced season of the year and the 
Inclemency of the weather have obliged us to suspend 
our operations, but we have agreed to meet again at 
the South West Corner of Pennsylvania on the sixteenth 
Day of next May, to complete the object of our Com- 
mission." Agreeably to this arrangement, Major EIH- 
cott left home on the 13th of May, and proceeded to 
Beeson-Town to meet the other Commissioners. He him- 
self would still represent Virginia until the Ohio River 
was reached, and the Pennsylvania-Virginia hne com- 
plete. After this he would become, according to his 
appointment by the Executive Council, one of Pennsyl- 
vania's Commissioners for determining the western bound- 
ary of that State. His diary of the journey to 
Beeson-Town and of the ensuing work begins on the 
day of his departure from home: 

" In the beginning of May I was acquainted by the in- 
genious M^. Rittenhouse of my being appointed a Commis- 
sioner in behalf of Pennsylvania after we crossed the Ohio, 
and on the 13^^^ I took a Sorrefull farewell of my Family 
and proceeded on for the Western Country and lodged at 
our seat on Patapsco— ^ 

14. Left our Seat and proceeded (with my Brother 
Joseph who is going with me on this expedition) to 
Frederick Town which place we reached about 8 OClock 
in the Evening. The lands from Baltimore to Mono- 
easy are generally very Bad the Inhabitants poor and 
Mechanicks very Lazy we had much Trouble in getting 
one Horse shod on the Road it detained us not less than 3 
Hours- Lodged at Capt. Morriss's- 

* Ellicott's Mills. 
3 



S4 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

15 In the Afternoon about 3 OClock we made 

Hagers-Town and took up our Quarters for the Remain- 
der of the Day— I am at this Time very lame occasioned by 
a Kick of a Horse on my left Leg just about the Ancle 
it happened about noon and for some time I thought the 
Bones must be shattered— .... 

16. Myself and Brother brakefasted with our good 
friend Col. Hart after which we proceeded to Hancock- 
Town the Land after we leave Fort Frederick is very 
Broken and except the Banks of Potowmack scarcely fit for 
Agriculture the Buildings are very sorry ; but the Inhabi- 
tants very Hospitable— .... at our Stage I found a 
great number of the Neighbours reading a News Paper 
printed more than Q Months ago but it nevertheless engaged 
their Attention and many conjectures were made upon the 
Politicks of the Day— .... 

17. . . . Rode to Old-Town— . . . this Evening I spent 
with the Celebrated Co^ Cressap he is now more than 100 
Years Old he lost his Eye sight about 18 months ago ; 
but his other faculties are yet unimpaired his sense Strong 
and Manly and his Ideas flow with ease— .... 

18. . . . Rode to M^. Gwyns, A considerable number 
of people are settling at Cumberland they expect in a 
Short Time to rival Hagers-Town in the Back Trade 
they will fail for want of an Extensive fertile Country 
Adjoining the place— .... at this Stage Ave found a 
considerable number of Mountaineers disputing about 
Rehgion— they were inclining to Methodistism— O My 
God ! what mischiefs Arise in this Sublunary World among 
us small and inconsiderable beings about the forms which 
will best please thee and enable us to reach that bliss 
promised us both by Reason and Revelation— 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 35 

19. Rode to M^. Mountains— [He was of course 
going over, in his journey, the same ground he had cov- 
ered the previous autumn, stopping at the same places, 
and following the same roads.] From Gwynnes to this 
place a distance of about 26 Miles the Trees are yet 
divested of their Various foliage and traces of winter 
are yet Visible the Gardens refuse to the Industrious Hus- 
bandman the Sweets of a Vegetable Diet— 

20. . . . About 4 OClock in the afternoon arrived at 
Beesons Town— as we descended the Laurell Hill we 
could sensibly observe the gentle gradations towards sum- 
mer till [we] came to the Bottom where the Trees were com- 
pleatly cloathed in their Robes of Summer— In this Town 
I met with my Colleague M''. Nevil from the State of 
Virginia— The Eastern Commissioners have not yet arived 
but their Baggage passed by Yesterday and proceeded to 
Muddy-Creek— we took up our Quarters at our Commis- 
saries M^. Jacob Beesons to wait their Arival. . . . The 
People about this Town are busied about making new 
Roads under the Direction of M''. Beeson— .... an In- 
dustrious good Citizen who directs his views to the case 
and convenience of his Neighbours in my oppinion is a 
Character wliich Royalty might envy— 

23 We have certain advice that some Indians and 

White People got in a Frolick at Pittsburgh last week 
when two of the latter were killed by one of the former- 
he committed the Murder with a Knife of a large and 
strong make— . . . The Inhabitants of this part of the 
Country Might hve much more comfortably than they 
generally do— Their Houses or rather Cabbins are 
badly built they are small and ill planned and all the 



36 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Family live in the Same Apartment which serves for 
Parlour, Bed-Room, Washing-House, and Kitchin— 

24. A very Heavy Rain last Night and great part 
of this Day— the Fences which crossed the Runs I per- 
ceive are carried away and in all probabihty the Indian 
Corn will suffer very much— the delay of the Pennsylvanian 
Commissioners which detain us at this Place added to the 
wet Weather makes this life by much too inactive— . . . 
without Action the Mind becomes torpid and the body 
Lethargick— And doubtless when the Deity formed Man he 
intended him for Action and hence the Judgment against 
Adam — 

" In the Sweat of thy Face, shalt thou eat Bread " 

Milton. 

For want of a Bible I found myself under the nesses- 
sity of applying to Milton for the sentence against Adam 
which though not litterally scriptural is sufficiently pointed 
for my purpose— 

25. A clear windy day but too cold for the Season 
the Time hangs very heavy upon me but few Acquaint- 
ance and those unacquainted with the Principles of our 
business by which I am unable to communicate my Ideas 
of forming and running a Meridian across such a broken 
and uncultivated Country- was but M'^. Rittenhouse 
Here I think my mind would enjoy itself and our business 
go on with accuracy and expedition- The Indians are 
very mischievous over the River if they do not become 
more placable we shall not attempt to carry our Line 
into their Country this Season— 

My Female acquaintances are very few the Women have 
generally strong and course Features and by no means 
regular but they carry evident marks of Health— .... 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 37 

26. Very cold for the Season ... by a person from 
the Mountain we learn that it snowed on the Laurel-HiD- 
Four Men came into Town from the Indian Country where 
4 of their company were killed by the Natives- M^. Peter 
Patrick was one of the unfortunate, . . . We as yet have 
no account of the Pennsylvanian Commissioners their delay 
is very surprizing . . . 

27. . . . M'"^. M'^Lane wife of Col. McLane who is now- 
laying off Districts over the River Ohio made an agree- 
able entertainment for us the Principle Ladies in Town 
attended- Mirth and Sociability enlivened the Evening " 

This entertainment was perhaps given in return for 
one of which he had written to his wife a few days before 
in the following letter: 

« My Dear "May 25th 1785 

. . . We are yet laying at Beeson-Town. . . . Yester- 
day my Assistant Col. Nevil, and myself had a Tea Enter- 
tainment, at which the Principle Ladies of the Place at- 
tended : — considering our Situation, and the situation of 
our Company, it was conducted with much Gallantry, 
Mirth, and good Humour: and though you was distant 
many long Miles, I nevertheless enjoyed your enchanting 
company in Idea— Pray be carefull of your Health, and 
the Health of our Little ones— Keep our Pew full- and 
pay the utmost respect to our good Parson West. . . . 
Give my respects to Young ]\I'*. West, I intend him to draw 
our Pictures on my Return,— he will make a Capital figure 
as a Limner— .... 

With utmost Affection 

and Love your Dutifull 

Husband." 



thi 



38 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The journal continues: 

28. Spent the forenoon in Walking about the Coun- 
try— In the afternoon received advice that the Pennsyl- 
vanian Commissioners were on the Mountains and expected 
to join us Tommorrow Evening— this Intelligence has 
given a new stimulus to my Spirits especially when I 
consider that my good and Wise Friend David Ritten- 
house is one of the Gentlemen with which we are to spend 
thjs Season— . . . 

29. Being Sunday — In a humble frame of mind I 
adored the Transcendant goodness and boundless Majesty 
of the Deity I viewed myself as an Atom in the Creation 
and wondered why pride should be in Man ; - but small 
and Inconsiderable as we may appear when compared to 
the Infinity of the Universe we nevertheless appear to 
be objects under the Ruling care of Divine Providence 
else why was this Celestial Spark which enlightens ]Man 
and inquisitive Reason to search after the Hidden Mis- 
teries of Nature, given us . . . 

30. A fine Morning- .... About 11 OClock the East- 
ern Commissioners to my Joy arived — the Afternoon was 
spent in much good Humour and mirth and philosophick 
enquiry — The Evening I passed at M'"^. Campbells whose 
good Sence and hvely Immagination added to her personal 
Charms and Sociability could not fail of giving the greatest 
satisfaction to a person blessed with the fine feelings of Hu- 
man Nature— Envy and detraction have Levelled their en- 
venomed Darts at her reputation; but Time which like 
Eire tries all things will pronounce her an Honour to 
her Sex and She will be remembered for her good quali- 
ties when the little disturbers of her repose are buried 
in Oblivion— 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 39 

June 1st., 1785. . . . My Assistant Col. Nevil has lost 
both his Horses some days ago which will occasion our 
Movements tomorrow to be attended with some Inconven- 
ience— Many of the People on this Side of the Mountain 
affect Learning the following is a Specimen of Maj : 
Brownfields Talents in that way — as he rode up to a 
Tavern he made the following elegant oration — " hoollo 
the Host ! the Host ! " at which the Servant appeared he 
then continued " take my labourous dumb- Animal, and put 
him in a seperate department by himself, and give him 
proper Nutrils such as a dumb Animal may consist on, 
and I will abscond for It in the Morning " the boy 
not understanding this strange harrangue, ran to his 
Master, and desired him to walk to the Door, for the 
Person there was a frenchman, and he could not under- 
stand one word he said— at another time he observed 
that " there would be a great conjunction of Rain or 
Snow for there Avas a large Circumstance round the 
MOON " and when he made application for his Licence in 
order to keep a Publick-House in Beeson Town— he made 
the following Speech before the Court— " Gentlemen by 
the consent of the People and the probation of the County 
I intend to present my House to the use of the Pub- 
hck- . . . .» 

3<i. Parted with all our Friends and Rode to the Widow 
Seatons— in the Evening Had an Interview with the Penn- 
sylvanian Commissioners— . . . The Inhabitants of this 
Western-Country on account of their little care in keeping 
themselves and Houses Clean are . . . infested with Bugs 
and Fleas— .... The Inhabitants of Beeson-Town 
though in many Respects Valuable Members of the Com- 



40 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

munity appear to have no Idea of distributing their busi- 
ness into several apartments ; but one Small Cabbin an- 
swers all the purposes of Parlour Bed-Room, Kitchin and 
Wash House— This may be termed Multum in Parvo— . . . 

5. . . . The man attended with Horses for Col. Nevil 
we then proceeded for the Wilderness by the way of 
Jacksons Fort which place we reached about 11 OClock 
and being Sunday we attended Divine Service if a Rap- 
sody of words so unconnected that no Human being could 
place one Sentence to the end of another to make common 
Sence may deserve that Epithet- after this business being 
ended we proceeded up Ten Mile to Its first Fountain- 
The Bottom-Lands on this Stream are very good but they 
are narrow being bounded by High-Hills unfit for Cul- 
tivation— In the Evening we reached the Waters of Fish- 
Creek where we joined Our Hands and Encamped. . . . 

6. . . . Some of my Horses Missing, after making some 
search, we gave them up— Struck our Tents and De- 
camped- about 11 OClock we encamped with the Penn- 
sylvanians on the Main N. Fork of Fish-Creek where we 
expected the Mieridian to pass— in the Afternoon began 
opening a Vista Due N. from S. W. Corner of Pennsyl- 
vania [This was where they had left off work the previ- 
ous season]. 

7 The Morning was clear and promised us a 

favourable day but by noon the Rain began to fall very 
plentifully accompanied with Heavy Thunder- In our way 
to the Corner we roused some fine Deer— this part of 
the Country is not only a Wilderness at present but must 
ever continue so— the Vallies are too small for Cultiva- 
tion and the Hills too steep and high, and in short they 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 41 

are only seperated by Crevices— their Tops are so narrow 
that frequently two Waggons would reach across— 

We are much pestered with Muskeetoes and Knats 
the last are numerous beyond conception and we have no 
other way to keep clear of them but by making a Smoak— 
... we find by experiance that Tobacco-Smoak is an ex- 
cellent preservative against them — one Pipe will clear a 
whole Tent— They are extreame small and tender the 
slightest touch crushes them to death— when we leave our 
Tents we have to muffle up our Faces and keep Gloves on 
our Hands in order to oppose their Attacks- The large 
Horse-fly is very numerous and pleagues our Horses ex- 
cessively— the poor Animals try to run into the Smoak 
of our Fires to get clear of them— Poison- Vine is in great 
abundance— my Hands are as compleatly bhstered as if 
I had applied a plaster of cantherides— I cannot see any- 
thing in this Wilderness that can make it tolerably agree- 
able— This evening we discovered a mutiny among our 
People in both Camps but for prudential reasons did not 
give any intimation of the discovery— 

8. Early this Morning, one Brown who was the 
soul of the Mutiny received a severe cudgeling and sev- 
eral others discharged— we then went with the remaining 
hands and began work ; ... In the afternoon my Brother 
Joseph went with some Hands to enlarge the Pile of 
Stones about the Corner Post— 

9. Doc*^. Barton, my Brother, and Self went to our old 
Observatory notwithstanding a heavy Rain— .... 

10^^. Last Evening was remarkably fine and gave us 
an opportunity of making such a number of Observations 
as enabled us to obtain our direction with uncommon 



42 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

presicion— The Horse Flies was so bad that they drove 
our Horses almost Mad the poor dumb Animals would lay 
down and rowl in order to get Clear of them— 

Here the diary ends, but the letters to his wife continue 
the story of the work. 

"Gkave Creek Waters 
« My Deae J^« ^^''" 1^^^- 

We have now been about two Weeks in the Wilderness, 
and our Work goes on very well, we cut about % of a Mile 
p'* Day over the most hilly Country upon Earth. — - the 
greatest Harmony possible subsists among us, M''. Rit- 
tenhouse in perticular has frequently complimented me, 
which I confess has somewhat raised my Vanity, because 
he is commonly sparing, but where he conceives there is 
real Merit— My Brother Joseph directs one Company of 
the Hands, I believe to [the] great satisfaction of both 
Employer, and Employee— We live considering our Situa- 
tion very well; but by constantly shifting our encamp- 
ment, it is out of our power to observe that regularity 
we are enabled to do at Home— When I say we live very 
well, it must be considered with regard to the many dis- 
advantages under which a set of people in a Wilderness 
must labour— If I could picture this part of the Western- 
Country, you would wonder why it could ever be an object 
of contention. — Conceive a Country composed of an in- 
finite number of very High Hills, narrow at the Top, 
and only seperated by narrow Crevices, or Chinks, as for 
Vallies there is none— these Hills are Inhabited at present 
by Bears, Wolves, Deer, &c. and covered by tall Timber, 
and Weeds ; among the latter are many Serpents, particu- 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 43 

larly the Rattle Snake- which have frequently brought the 
following lines of Doc^'' Goldsmith to my Memory, 

" Where at Each step, the Traveller fears to Wake" 
" The Rattling terrours, of the Vengefull Snake" 

When I reflect on the Hardships we daily experiance, 

in climbing over this Country, I again follow the same 
Poet and exclaim,— 

"How ill are things like these exchanged for thee" 

If it should become sickly in Town, send the Children to 
the Mill, a change of Air may probably be nessessary — 
If real Love, and Affection, ever attended a Solemn Mar- 
riage Contract I think it was ours— and the greatest 
pleasure I now enjoy is in anticipating my return to your 
Loving Embraces.— Pray give my Respects to our good 
Friend Parson West, and his Family— and excuse this 
hasty Letter, which I am under the nessessity of writing 
upon my Knee in the Woods— 

I am My Dear Your 

Loving and Affectionate 

Husband." 

"Watees of Weeling 
"MyDeak July 6 1785. 

. . . We are yet in the Wilderness ; but expect to 
Reach the Settlement in 10 or 11 days, we go on with 
great regularity, and cut a most beautiful line, this 
day we had a Prospect along it of about 15 Miles, it 
appeared as streight as a well stretched Cord, and we 
could not discover the least error by a most excellent 



44 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Telescope— My Brother Joseph at Present runs the guide 
Line for the Choppers, and keeps in great favour— my 
attendence on the Line is never more than four Hours 
on one Day, which is spent in putting up Marks in the 
Line— we rectify our Course by Observation in the Night 
when we suppose there can be any error— 

Our living is generally very good, we have Wine, Spirits, 
and Whiskey,— Bacon, Bear, Deer, and Turkey— but have 
been twice without Provision till Hunger began to be 
sensibly felt — I have a desire that you would send me 
your Picture, have it done by young West, one so small 
that it may be enclosed in a Letter which must be sent 
to Beeson Town— do gratify me in this reasonable Re- 
quest- I have enclosed a Line to young West on the 
Occasion— .... 

I am my Dear 

Your Affectionate 

Husband. 

P. S. Our Waiters are now preparing some Goose- 
Berry Tarts— this Fruit is natural to this Country- 
Do not forget the Picture — I know you would not, if 
you could be sensible of the Pleasure it would give me. 

A. E." 

«My Dear « July 29th 1785. 

I have now been living about one Week at M'^ Charles 
Well's, where I have been treated as one of his Family he 
has become one of the Richest Men on this side of the 
Mountain— his last Wife is a very agreeable Woman- our 
Line is now about 2 Miles beyond this Place and we 
propose moving after it Tomorrow— from a Hill where 




Sarah Ellicoit 
The wife of Andrew Ellicoit. From a mini- 
ature. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 45 

our Axe-Men are now Encamped we have a most beauti- 
full Prospect of the Line for about 12 Miles— 

I expect we shall reach the River Ohio in the course 
of 4 Weeks— we have all been very Healthy but several 
of our Men [have] been hurt by the falling of Trees one 
. . . got his arm broke in two places— . . . 

I bear my absence from you and our Httle Cliildren 
but badly and frequently force a smile when my Heart 
is shut against Mirth- I shall write largely to you and 
all my Friends when we get to the River- I shall then 
draw upon the State of Virginia for my pay which will 
be a very considerable sum— when that comes to hand my 
desire is that you would have the House finished and fur- 
nished with everything that you may deem nessessary— . . . 
I am my Dear Sally 

Your Affectionate and 

Loving Husband." 

« My Dear « August 4th 1785. 

On Monday last I left M''. Charles Well's, where I had 
my Head-Quarters for 9 or 10 days ; and have again 
taken to the Tent— we now go about 1 Mile p'^ Day, 
having made an addition to our Axe Men, and expect to 
compleat the Boundary between Virginia, and Pennsyl- 
vania, in about 20 days— .... Was I but convinced of 
your Wellfare, I think I should enjoy a considerable share 
of Human Happiness ; but I find myself so attatched to 
you, by Real Love, and Sympathetick Affection, that I 
always have fears on this Head— . . . Your 

Affectionate and 

Loving Husband." 



46 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

On the 23d of August the boundary line between Penn- 
sylvania and Virginia was completed, and the joint Com- 
missioners could report, " We have carried a meridian line 
from the southwest corner of Pennsylvania northward to 
the river Ohio, and marked it by cutting a wide vista 
over all the principal hills intersected by the said line, 
and by falhng or deadening a line of trees generally 
through all the lower ground, and we have likewise placed 
stones marked on the east side ' P.' and on the west side 
' V ' on most of the principal hills and where the line 
strikes the Oliio, which stones are accurately placed in 
the true meridian boundaries of the states as aforesaid." ^ 

He writes liis wife of the completion of the work: 

"My Deau "Aug. 24th 1785. 

We now lay encamped on the Banks of the Ohio and 
intend Crossing it Tomorrow— 

The Boundary Line between the States of Virginia and 
Pennsylvania was compleated on the 23 Day of this Month 
it makes a most beautifull appearance from the Hills being 
between 60 and 70 Miles due North and cut very wide 
and perfectly streight— The Indians appear very peac- 
able and I do not apprehend there can be any danger 
within the compass of our business from them- many 
Families are now settled over the River and are not appre- 
hensive of being interrupted— 

I have enclosed my Account against the State of Vir- 
ginia In the Letter directed to Mess^'^ Usher and Don- 
aldson who will let you have what Money you want to 
finish and furnish the House- I want Carpets for the 

* Pennsylvania Archives, 1785, vol. x. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 47 

Entry and Front Room they may be Had of Usher and 
Donaldson— the other things I shall leave intirely to your 
Judgment and Taste— 

I expect my pay this Season will enable me to put my 
Affairs in such a situation that Money will never have 
charms sufficient to draw me from you another Season- 
Many are the Solotory Hours I spend in traversing these 
vast Woods and I never take a walk but I find the want 
of your Company— . . . 

My principle Companion is M^ Rittenhouse who is a 
Gentleman I daily find new reasons for Admiring; but 
how fluctuating is Human Happiness? this good Man will 
leave us in September— 

I would choose you should get one Looking Glass of M'" 
William Murphey Book Seller in Market Street ; but this 
is medling with things which belong to your Depart- 
ment— .... 

I am My Dear Your 

Affectionate Husband." 

" My Dear " September Sunday llth 1785. 

As this Letter goes by the way of Philadelphia, in all 
probability it will not come to hand in less than 20 days 
from the Date— in that case you may begin to look for 
my return, in about 5 Weeks afterwards— We are now 
encamped about 12 Miles West of the Ohio, our Work 
goes on very well considering the Country we have to go 
through — the Hills extreme brushy, and no inhabitants 
within many miles— 

We have had several of our Workmen badly Hurt by 
the falhng of Timber in our Line— One unfortunate per- 



48 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

son by the name of Cross, was caught under the Top of 
a Tree last Wednesday, and died on Fryday— the same 
Night we buried him in the Middle of the Line, and raised 
him a Monument of Logs- such a Circumstance in the 
Wilderness, is attended with an uncommon degree of 
Solemnity— 

I shall have to go to Philadelphia soon after my return, 
and intend taking you along— I shall want some new 
Shirts, let half of them be full Ruffled, make what Prep- 
aration you tliink proper for yourself, and do not fear 
the expence.— 

Tomorrow my Dear Friend the Great M''. Rittenhouse 
leaves us, and proceeds for Philadelphia, his absence will 
be greatly felt by our little Band, but by none more than 
myself, he has been my constant companion in all our little 
Excursions, after the natural Curiosities of this Coun- 
try,— we have discovered some worthy the Attention of 
Philosophers,— specimens of which we have preserved— . . . 

The following is an exact description of our way of 
Living, — we brakefast early on Coffee or Chocolate— we 
dine on good Beef, or Venson— and afterwards take a 
glass of good Wine— In the Evening we have a dish of 
Tea, and a Bowl of Syllabubb— we have three fine Cows- 
Description cannot paint my anxiety for your wellfare, 
and the wellfare of our Children, and many are the waking 
Hours I spend in my Tent, in the dead of Night, antici- 
pating my return to your Arms, and once more enjoy 
the Charmes of your Mind, and conversation— . . . 
I am my Dear Sally 

Your Affectionate and 

Loving Husband." 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 49 

The boundary line was carried some forty or fifty miles 
north of the Ohio River, when, the weather becoming so 
wintry as to make it impossible to proceed further that 
season, the work was suspended until the spring of the 
following year, when it was completed by Andrew Porter 
and Alexander McLean.^ 

Soon after his return to Baltimore, Major EUicott 
made his contemplated trip to Philadelphia, although it 
appears that Mrs. Ellicott did not accompany him as he 
had planned. 

His Journal of the two weeks' visit is contained in a small 
thin copy-book, having a cover of thin cardboard with a 
peculiar and primitive attempt at marbling; on the front 
cover is written " Journal of Andrew Ellicott, 1785." 
The book contains altogether but twenty leaves, yet in 
that small space is written much that goes to show the 
regard in which Major Ellicott was held by his distin- 
guished contemporaries. The first entry is Nov. 28, 1785. 

" I set off in the Stage for the City of Philadelphia 
our Company consisted of a Young Quaker by the name 
of Todd a Jew a Young Enghshman and a Miss Dodds- 
worth her real Character I could not come at she is 
possessed of many polite Accomplishments a Native of 
England and has made the tour of Europe in the Even- 
ing we arived at the Head of Elk— 

29. About 5 OClock we left the Inn and about 6 OClock 
in the Evening arived at Philadelphia— I went directly 
to my much esteemed Friend David Rittenhouses and was 
received by that great man with every degree of Respect— 

30. Visitted my old Acquaintance 

* Pennsylvania Archives, 1786, vol. xi. 
4 



50 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

December 1^*- 1785. Visittcd the University and was 
received by the President and Professors with perticular 
marks of distinction— the President is Doc^ Ewing whose 
AbiHties are too well known to need any comment— the 
Professor of Mathematicks is M^ Robert Paterson to 
whom I am in part indebted for the small share which I 
claim in the Arts- 
Spent the Evening with my Friend David Ritten- 
house at the celebrated Doc* Benjamin Frankhns the 
present Governour of this State— the old Gentleman the 
infirm in body possesses the former Vigour of his mind— 

2. this Evening attended the Meeting of our Philo- 
sophical Society we had a proposal of Doc* Magellans 
laid before us ; it was a donation of 200 Guineas with a 
condition that 10£ yearly should be paid as a prize to 
the person who should make the best Improvement in 
Natural Philosophy or Navigation (Natural History ex- 
cepted) we had likewise a long Paper of Doc* Frank- 
hns read proposing some improvements in Navigation— 

3. Rainy continued at my Friend D. Rittenhouses— 

4. Immediately after brakefast I went by perticular 
In\dtation to spend the Day with Doc*^. Franklin- I 
found him in his little Room Among his Papers— he re- 
ceived me very pohtely and immediately entered into con- 
versation about the Western Country — his Room makes 
a Singular Appearance, being filled with old philosophical 
Instruments, Papers, Boxes, Tables, and Stools- About 
10 OClock he sat some water on the fire and not being 
expert through his great age I desired him to give me 
the pleasure of assisting him, he thanked me and replied 
that he ever made it a point to wait upon himself and 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 51 

although he began to find himself infirm he was deter- 
mined not to encrease his Infirmities by giving way to 
them— After his water was hot I observed his Object was 
to shave himself which Operation he performed without 
a Glass and with great expedition— I Asked him if he 
never employed a Barber he answered, " no " and con- 
tinued nearly in the following words " I think happiness 
does not consist so much in perticular pieces of good 
fortune that perhaps accidentally fall to a Mans Lot as 
to be able in his old age to do those little things which 
was he unable to perform himself would be done by others 
with a sparing hand— " Several Foreigners of Distinction 
dined with us— About 9 Clock in the Evening I took 
my leave of this Venerable Nestor of America— 

5. Attended the Lectures at the University— My Friend 
M^. Rittenhouse lives like a true Philosopher — his Wife 
is a most admirable Woman he has two Children both 
Daughters they are compleatly accomplished— to do them 
justice would exceed the utmost exertions of my Pen— 
the oldest is named Elizabeth and the youngest Ester— 
they are the Children he had by a former Wife 

6. Examined several Book stores whilst I was in one 
a Maccarony looking fellow came in and Asked for some 
Musick but not being able to find what he wanted he 
swore the Natives of this Country had no kind of taste 
for the fine liberal Arts— I conceived myself aimed at by 
the general reflection and asked him upon what principle 
he made such a general reflection he Answered " I have 
now sought this Town all over and am not able to find a 
perticular piece of Musick—" perhaps sir you are a Musick 
Master ; Yes sir at Your service — Upon my word sir it 



52 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

is very Extraordinary for a Teacher of Musick to pass 
a general reflection upon all the Natives of the United 
states— you who are only a professor of one of the least 
of the Pohte Arts has ventured to condemn a whole Con- 
tinent for want of a tast in the " fine Arts " as you terra 
them if you had a genious for visiting our seminaries 
of Learning and possessed of one degree of Candour you 
would freely Acknowledge your Mistake — he saw my ill- 
nature and left me to my own reflections— 

I cannot help Indulging one reflection respecting the 
divided and distressed political state of this Common- 
wealth — It is my native Country I love it beyond any 
other and I feel its distresses— the Opposite Parties are 
nearly ballanced and very violent— and a third is now 
springing up composed of Foreigners of a perticular Class 
from whom we are not to expect anything but discord. 
— I fear they are now opening Pandoras Box they call 
themselves the New adopted sons of Pennsylvania— What 
a Being is Man see him professing the meek and divine 
religion of Christ see him on the days of divine service 
like a saint humbly calling upon the object of his Faith 
for speritual Assistance and see this same meek humble 
immitator of his Master armed with envy and discord 
destroying the repose and quiet of his fellow Mortals and 
you will have a Picture of Man ! How are the exceptions 
to this Picture to be valued ?— 

Drank Tea With Gen. Hand and Col. Harmer at my old 
Friends Mary Jenkins— 

7. Spent the forenoon at the University Dined with 
the President the Rev*^. John Ewing D.D— Spent the 
Afternoon at M^. Samuel Vauns— he has the Best Philo- 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 53 

sophlcal Aperatus in the United States and a great variety 
of Petrifactions Fossils &c- In the Evening I returned to 
my good Friends M^. Rittenhouses— where I find real satis- 
faction his Philosophy and agreeable Manners his Ladies 
good sence and uncommon good Nature added to the 
lively conversation and wise observations of the Daughters 
would make even a monk fond of their society— 

I expected that I should at least be clear of persecu- 
tion from the schemers during my stay in this City — • 
but my expectations were vain I am now pestered with 
a Gentleman by the name of Fitch,^ he has a Modle of a 
Machine for working Boats up Rivers by a Steam Engine- 
It is well known from Experiments that Steam may be 
carried to any degree of strength but whether its Force 
can be applied with the comphcated Machinery to advan- 
tage can only be determined by actual Experiments ^ 

8. This day I spent in part with my old Friend Gen^ 
Lacey- the Evening I spent with the President ^ his Philo- 
sophical knowledge added to his other Qualifications and 
uncommon Sociability for one of his Age has but few ex- 
amples in the Annals of History— 

9. Rainy- Continued at M^. Rittenhouses all day. 

10. ... I met some of my old Neighbours in Market- 
.... Dined at the Presidents of the University- Settled 
my business in the Evening and prepared to leave tliis 
City on Monday next— 

^ John Fitch, a native of Connecticut and an inventor of some note. 

" Major EUicott subsequently became much interested in Fitch's ex- 
periments, and when the steamboat was finally built and tried on the Dela- 
ware River in August,''l787, we find that Governor Randolph of Virginia, 
Andrew EUicott and others gave Fitch certificates as to the merits of his 
experiment. — McMaster's "History of the People of the United States," 
vo!. i., p. 434. ' Benjamin Franklin. 



54. ANDREW ELLICOTT 

11. Sunday — ... Although my Family are con- 
stantly in my mind whenever I am distant from them- I 
nevertheless cannot help feehng some emotion on leaving 
a Family where I have lived with so much ease and satisfac- 
tion, in leaving a Gentleman possessed of all the Qualifica- 
tions which generally adorn a Human being, a Gentleman 
with whom I have been joined in Publick Business, and in 
which we shared the Featiegues of Two Campains in the 
Wilderness— 

12. After an Affectionate farewell about 5 OClock in 
the morning I went to the stage Office and took possession 
of my seat— the stage was full and one of the Company 
was the Female Travelour mentioned in the beginning of 
this — I think her Character is develloping— It will not be 
misterious many Hours longer — but to my great satis- 
faction a Most Amiable Lady the Wife of Major Lenox 
and Daughter of John Lukens Esq^ is one of our company 
— in the Evening her Husband met us at the Head of Elk 
at our Lodgings— .... 

13. Got up and dressed at 4 OClock in the Morning- 
rested very badly last Night— . . . and an anxiety about 
my Family contributed not a little to my watchfull disposi- 
tion — none of my fellow Travelours yet up, .... I think 
I could now without the Sperit of Divination give a true 
Character of our Female Rover— but as it is none of my 
business I shall conclude with remarking that People may 
do Wrong If they please ; but when it is as easy to do 
right as wrong right ought infinitely to have the prefer- 
ence— . . . got home this evening about 7 OClock and had 
the happiness to find my Family in good Health 



CHAPTER III 

THREE BOUNDARIES AND THE FIRST MEASUREMENT OF 

NIAGARA 

1786-1790 

Whil:e; living in Baltimore, Major Ellicott taught mathe- 
matics in the Baltimore Academy. He also represented 
that city in the Maryland legislature, and it was during 
his residence there that he was elected to the American 
Philosophical Society,^ of which he became so prominent 
a member and for which he wrote so many valuable 
scientific papers. His public work went on without any 
indication of rest on his part, and one survey followed 
closely upon another. Early in the spring of 1786, he 
was called to Philadelphia to confer with General James 
CUnton ^ and Mr. Simeon DeWitt,^ commissioners from 
New York, about the running of the northern boundary 

* His certificate of membership bears date Jan. 20, 1786, and the signa- 
tures of Benjamin FrankUn, President, and of John Ewing, Wilham White, 
and Samuel Vaughn, Vice-presidents. 

^ James Chnton, a brother of Gov. George CHnton, born 1736. He 
was a general in the Revolution, of distinguished ability and bravery. He 
was a member of the State legislature, 1788-1792, and died in 1812. 

^ Simeon DeWitt, born 1756. Served in the Continental Army as Assist- 
ant Topographer 1778-1780, and as Chief of General Washington's Topo- 
graphical Staff, 1780-1783. He was State Surveyor-General of New York, 
1784-1834 ; Commissioner on boundaries, 1783, 1785 and 1790 ; Canal Com- 
missioner, 1810; Chancellor of the University of the State of New York, 
1825-1834; was a member of the American Philosophical Society and one 
of the chief promoters of the Erie Canal. He died in 1834. 



56 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

of Pennsylvania from the Delaware River to the west side 
of the south branch of the Tioga River, a distance of 
ninety miles. 

Tliis line, begun by David Rittenhouse in 1774, was 
abandoned unfinished at the beginning of the Revolution, 
and no further steps had been taken in the matter of its 
completion until Major Ellicott was called to Philadelphia 
to meet the two gentlemen just mentioned. The diary of 
the trip, which according to his custom was carefully 
kept, tells us that on the 17th of April, 1786, he 

" Set out in the stage about 4 p.m. for the City of Phila- 
delphia in order to meet some Commissioners from new 
York on Publick business my Travellmg Companions very 
agreeable— . . . Lodged at Bush Town 

18^^. Set off about 4 OClock in the Morning Brake- 
fasted at Susquehannah — our Driver Overset the stage 
but fortunately no one got Hurt— dined at Wilmington 
and Arived at Philadelphia about 6 OClock P.M. I find 
Vegetation much more forward here than with us at Balti- 
more which is a most extraordinary circumstance as it 
is generally the reverse owing to the South situation of 
Baltimore went and spent a short time with some In- 
dians from or near Canada— they are men of Consequence 
and in all probability their business is Important— 

19. Early in the Morning Visitted my valuable Friend 
David Rittenhouse and was received with the usual marks 
of real Friendship and by desire took up my Lodging 
with him. As I have formerly spoke of his Amiable Family 
I shall not attempt it again under full conviction that it 
is not in my Power to do them Justice— I find the Gentle- 
men from New York have arived— 





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ANDREW ELLICOTT 57 

After Brakefast went to find the Lodgings of the 
Commissioners from New York— and Visitted them Incog— 
Gen. CHnton appears to be a thoughtfull old Gentleman 
and M^. Dewit a man of 27 or 28 Years from report 
he is a Gentleman of strong natural Parts added to much 
thought and observation for one of his age— After in- 
forming them that the Gentleman from Baltimore had 
arived and expected them at M''. Rittenhouses Tomorrow 
at 11 OClock A.M. I took my leave— I visitted my old 
Friend Doc* Ewing in the Afternoon— 

20*-^^. After Brakefast the New York Commissioners 
waited upon us and we agreed upon some Points— and 
meet again Tomorrow — Nothing else of Consequence- 
Si. Settled some more business with the New York 
Commissioners they are sensible judicious Gentlemen— And 
I find the Accounts I have had of M^. Dewit hardly equal 
to his merit— In the Afternoon to my great joy Col. 
Porter came to Town— In the Evening attended a Meet- 
ing of Our Philosophical Society a great number of re- 
spectable members were present— Returned at 11 OClock 
at Night— And am now listening to Miss Hetties Vocal 
INIusick- Musick thou Softener of the Savage Mind thou 
Power divine how little attention do we pay to thy merits 
and how ill are thy services rewarded, to thee we apply for 
Consolation and look for thy Assistance in our Devotions 

22. this Evening settled all our business with the Com- 
missioners from New York— 

23. Not only being Sunday but Likewise the Birth 
Day of my Friend M^. Rittenhouse— he was born April 
23*1 1732— and one of those instances where strength of 
Genious independent of a liberal Education or even the 



68 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

common advantages lias raised himself a Monument of 
Fame more durable than all the glittering pomp attend- 
ant on Wealth and Power— Without Tutors and almost 
without the Aid of Books he mastered the most critical 
and sublime parts of science and is now justly esteemed 
the first Astronomer in this New World and perhaps in- 
ferior to none in the Old— his hfe is as remarkable as his 
genious with a modest diffidence ever attending merit added 
to the most prudential Conduct has secured his fame with- 
out creating one Enemy or exciting Envy 

Spent great part of this day at W™. Bartons Esq'* 
he is a most judicious Gentleman and Valuable Citizen— 
and was presented by himself with some of his Political 
Writings 

24. Spent generally in planning the Opperations for 
the two Lines intended to be carried on this season— Dined 
at the University- 
's. Compleated our business I settled my Accounts 
and prepared to set off in the Stage tomorrow- for 
Baltimore " 

His commission as Pennsylvania's representative for this 
survey bears date June, 1786, and evidently a mutual 
arrangement with the two commissioners from New York, 
had been the appointment of an early date for the begin- 
ning of this boundary work, as Major Ellicott was in the 
field by July, and on the 11th of that month wrote to his 
wife from " Tyoga " : 

" My Dear 

We arrived at this place on Sunday last in good 
Health and Spirits— . . . Contrary to our expectation 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 59 

we found the White people, and Indians Hveing together in 
great Harmony in the Neighbourhood of this Place ; which 
circumstance is much in favour of both parties. We have 
obtained some curiosities on the River ; but the Most re- 
markable is a Tooth of some sea Monster, which weighs 
many pounds, the part used for grinding, is on the Sur- 
face about 6 Inches, by 3, and as smooth as when used by 
the Animal to wliich it formerly belonged— . . . 
I am Your Affectionate 

Husband." 

He wrote later from the 

" Banks of the Susqtjehannah, Augst 6^\ 1786. 
"My Dear./ 

... I have just returned from attending divine Ser- 
vice in the Indian Camp— this will no doubt appear 
Strange to you ; but stranger yet when I assure you that 
I have found more true Religion, and Christianity among 
them, than the White Inhabitants on the Frontiers ; they 
are of the Church of England, and have the Service Com- 
pleat in their own Language, they Sing Psalms to ad- 
miration:— much Superior to the Dutch Methodists in 
Baltimore— Pray do not fail informing our Friend Doc^'* 
West of this circumstance— The Indian Town of Shanaug 
is about 12 Miles from our present position, the Head 
Sachem with his Family have been with us many Days- 
He has a Daughter by the Name of Sally, and a Niece 
who lives with us, and share in all our Amusements such 
as Cards, and Draughts, commonly called Checkards— 
Commissioner DeWitt has taken a Picture of the Daughter 
which I intend to have Coppied Large by Billy West — so 
much at present on account of the Indians — our business 



60 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

goes on very well- the New York Commissioners are 
agreeable and judicious Gentlemen, which contributes not 
a Httle to render our Situation as agreeable as could be 
expected- ... I am so very busy with the stars this night, 
that I neither have time to coppy this, or even to read it 
after it is wrote— . . . 

Your Affectionate & Loving 

Husband." 

His associate in the work was his friend David Ritten- 
house. Writing to Robert Patterson of the work itself, 
Major Elhcott says, " In order to carry on the parallel 
of latitude with as much expedition and economy as pos- 
sible, we dispensed with the method of tracing a line on 
the arc of a great circle and correcting into the parallel, 
as pursued by Mess" Mason and Dixon in determining 
the boundary between this state and the state of Mary- 
land, and which we followed in completing their line in 
1784. We commenced our operations by running a guide 
line west, with a surveying compass from the point men- 
tioned on the Delaware, 20^ miles, and there corrected 
by the following zenith distances taken at its western ter- 
mination, by a most excellent sector, constructed and ex- 
ecuted by Dr. Rittenhouse." ^ 

By Oct. 12, 1786, the joint Commissioners could report 
that they had " finished ninety miles of the said Bound- 
ary, extending from the River Delaware to the Western 
Side of the South Branch of the Tyoga River and marked 
the same with substantial milestones." ^ 

* Here he adds tables, calculations, etc., at length. Am. Phil. Soc. 
T^an^ (1st Series) IV, 39. 

' Pennsylvania Archives, XI, 522. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 61 

In the following year (1787) he was re-appointed by 
the Executive Council to complete the boundary from the 
90th milestone, where they had left off the previous season, 
to Lake Erie. His co-worker this year was Col. Andrew 
Porter, and the two Commissioners from New York were 
Abraham Hardenbergh and William Morris. Major Elli- 
cott's first letter to his wife, during his absence on this 
survey, is dated Philadelphia, May 10, 1787. 

" My Dear 

Tomorrow morning I shall set out for Lancaster in the 
Stage,— I have been delayed some days longer than I ex- 
pected in this City, on account of getting our Instruments 
in the best order— . . . The people of this State continue 
much divided on the subject of Government; and Politics 
run high— M^. Webster the Lecturer, and authour of the 
Gramatical Institutes, has been here but a short time; 
but in that time has had the fortune to enter into the 
spirit of the contending parties, and has already got his 
hands full. I yesterday saw three attacks against him. 
these northern gentry appear mightily pestered with a 
restless, and uneasy spirit, which some good people who 
are now lodging with me, suppose must proceed from the 
remains of that witchcraft, wliich formerly prevailed in 
their country — .... 

I am My Dear your 

Affectionate Husb*^." 

He writes again from Wyoming, May 29, 1787: 

" My Dear 

. . . Last evening General Pickering, and several Gen- 
tlemen of distinction arrived at this Place from Phila- 



62 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

delphia ; and on this day the Court is to be opened under 
the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania- this circumstance must 
be one of the most pleasing kind to the honest well dis- 
posed People of this unhappy district, which has con- 
stantly been in a state of anarchy, and confusion since its 
first settlement— General Pickering has great merit for 
his exertions to bring the Connecticut claimants to a quiet 
submission to the jurisdiction of the State- word is this 
moment brought in that some of our Saddles was stolen 
last night, I hope the Villains have left our Horses- 
this People fly from the Idea of Government like Pidgeons 
from a Storm— the thought of a Court of Justice is to 
the consciously guilty, as terrible as the Talons of a 
Lion to the Shepherds Flock- Our Horses are all safe 
but every Bridle is gone— 

I am my Dear your 

Affectionate Husband." 

" My Dear "Chemung, June 6*^ 1787 

. . . We have had good luck thus far on our Journey, 
and found the River in fine order for boating— . . . the 
Indians are well disposed, and intend accompanying us as 
usual— The great Onandago Chief Cap^. Cornelius Stur- 
geon, of whome you will find mention made in my Journal 
of last year, was murdered at the Tyoga Point last 
March by one of his owTi Tribe, and Townsman.— it ap- 
pears to have been a premeditated piece of work, and had 
its rise from two causes, First he was an absolute despot 
in his Tribe, and imposed an implicit complyance with his 
orders.— he was punctually obeyed, thro' fear, not love !— 
Secondly he began to adopt the Dress, and customs of 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 63 

the United States, and introduced them into his own 
Family— this gave great umbrage— as he was a man of 
some Literature, he knew the value of Letters— and the 
evening on which he was killed in conversation with Cap*. 
Spalding, he informed him that he intended to send his 
son to me in Baltimore, to be educated— he lived the 
life of a brave man; and died the death of a Tyrant!— 
The friends of the Murderer purchased his life for a sum 
of money not exceeding £.375 ; a poor recompence for 
the hfe of a great man ; and too much for that of a 
Despot— I knew the man— I almost envied him, his manly 
courage, and abilities ; but detested the Tyrant— I have 
no other information— . . . 

I am my Dear your 

Loving & Affectionate 

Husband." 

On August 29, 1787, a semi-official report of the work 
was sent to the President and Supreme Executive Council 
of Pennsylvania.^ It is headed " Observatory on the West 
side of the Conawango," and is signed by both Colonel 
Porter and Major Ellicott. There is little doubt, how- 
ever, that it was composed by the latter. 

" Gentlemen. 

We arrived at the Cawwanishee Flats on the 11th day 
of June where the 90th milestone was set up last season. 
The Susquehannah was remarkably low, which prevented 
our Boats making the necessary expedition. From the 
90th milestone we sent out Listruments up the Thysesa 
in Canoes about 10 miles, our water carriage then failed, 
and we had recourse to our Pack-horses, but the rugged- 
' Pennsylvania Archives, vol. xi, 178. 



64 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

ness of the country at the Heads of the Susquehannah, 
Genesseo and Allegany Rivers soon killed and rendered 
useless about two thirds, but fortunately for our business, 
when the Horses failed, we found ourselves on a small 
branch of Allegany River, necessity then pointed out the 
propriety of using water carriage as much as possible. 
We immediately set about making canoes, and by the 
spirited exertions of our men, with no other implements 
than three falling axes, two or three Tomahawks and 
a Chisel, 1^ Inch wide, we compleated in six days for 
the use of our Pennsylvania party 5 excellent Canoes, 
two of which are between 40 and 50 feet in length. These 
Canoes with our Stores, Instruments and Baggage, we 
hauled 10 miles down a shallow stream to the main Alle- 
gany River, our progress now began to appear less diffi- 
cult and we prepared to proceed down the River to a 
proper place for correcting the random Line by Astro- 
nomical observations, but the day preceding our intended 
movement, we were ordered by the Indians to discontinue 
the Line till a Treaty should be held. We met them at 
the time and place appointed, explained the nature and 
propriety of the business we were about, and were finally 
permitted to proceed. We have notwithstanding these 
difficulties compleated the Line to the 167th milestone 
from the Delaware and expect to have 28 miles more fin- 
ished in a few days and the fullest expectation of finishing 
the business this season In good time, if not Impeded by 
some Uncommon difficulty or accident. 

We have the Honour to be 

Your very Hbl Servants 

Andw Ellicott 
Andrew Porter." 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 65 

The next two letters in the correspondence concern- 
ing this summer's work are to his wife, the first headed 

" My Deae " Venango, Septr 13*^ i787. 

. . . We arrived at this place the day before yester- 
day . . . The Commandant Cap*. Hart of Connectticut 
treated us with every respect we could desire. We shall 
set out in one Hour up French Creek in order to finish 
the Line, which will probably be compleated in about 45 
days — We have passed all the Indian settlements, and 
consequently got clear of the greatest beggars that per- 
haps any country ever produced- a few days after my 
writing to you last, I formed and executed an expedition 
to Lake Erie- I took a large Canoe with 11 people, . . . 
we went up the Conawango River to a most beautiful Lake 
called by the Indians Chautauque,— It is in some places 
4^ Miles wide, and in the narrowest place about % of 
a mile,— And in length about 25 Miles— We went in our 
Canoe to the upper end, and then proceeded by land to 
Lake Erie,— The distance between these Lakes is about 
9 miles along the Path, but not more than 7 on a streight 
Line,— Lake Erie makes a grand appearance, and lashes 
the surrounding shores with Billows as large as those 
formed in the vast Atlantic— the sight of the Human 
Eye is bounded by the convex Waters and lost over the 
deep,— Could I but convey to you the pleasing sensations 
I had in this excursion, I should think my time better 
spent than when employed in Observing the heavenly 
Bodies,— Paint in your imagination a mighty River pour- 
ing her Waters into the Gulph of Florida, suppose this 
River traced up to a small Stream,— this stream I pur- 

5 



66 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

sued to its source which is Lake Chautauque, then from 
this Lake distant only 7 Miles, conceive a body of fresh 
Water many hundreds of Miles in circumferance, and this 
Lake connected with others, by water communications into 
the very middle of North America,— put these circum- 
stances together, and view the advantages which must 
naturally fall to the share of Posterity, and join with 
me in admiring the works of a great and superintending 
Power— 

The United States of America have more natural ad- 
vantages than any other Governments, or Powers in the 
World, and if they Judiciously turn to their own account 
those advantages which they have from the nature of 
the Country, they must become both rich and powerfull. 
. . . My constant prayers are for your health and 
happiness and that of our Dear Children- . . . 
I am my Dear your 

Loving Husband." 

"Observatory on Lake Erie October lltli 1787. 
" My Dear 

We arived here on the 8*^ and the same day erected 
our Observatory and in the evening began our Astro- 
nomical Observations, which I expect will be compleated 
in 10 days from this date at furthest— we shall then have 
the Pleasure of turning our Backs upon the Wilderness 
and setting out for home— Notwithstanding many un- 
expected difficulties arising from the want of a true 
knowledge of the Country, the death of our Horses and 
detention by the Indians, we shall contrary to the most 
sanguine expectations compleat the business in good time— 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 67 

I must confess to you that I cannot avoid the vanity of 
self aprobation in the compleation of this ardourous and 
troublesome undertaking, a business which has this season 
engrosed both the day and night— the method pursued 
this year was much more extensive and scientific than any 
other season since the commencement in 1784— ... As 
I shall set out so very soon for home I might like some 
Lovers have saved myself the trouble of sending this- 
and been the bearor myself— . . . 

Your Loving 

Husband." 

The next day, he and Col. Porter wrote jointly to 
Mr. Rittenhouse : ^ 

" Dr Sib.. " ^^^ ^^^' ^^*- ^^' ^'''^'''• 

We arrived here on the 8th and the same day began 
our course of observations which will probably be com- 
pleted in 5 or 6 days — The random Line passed between 
Le Beauf and Presque Isle about 5 miles north of the 
former, and we conjecture about 6 miles south of the 
latter. Considering the unexpected difficulties we had 
to encounter for want of a competent knowledge of the 
Geography of the Country, the death of our Horses, time 
taken up in making Canoes, and treating with the Indians, 
our business has gone on beyond our most sanguine ex- 
pectations, and will be completed in 14 or 15 days. We 
divided the Line in such a manner as to make 6 stations 
at each of which we determined a point in the parallel 
of Latitude, by about 336 observations. Neither attention 

* Pennsylvania Archives, vol. xi, 203. 



68 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

nor exertions have ever been wanting on our parts towards 
Scientific and permanent completion of the business en- 
trusted to us, and the general behaviour of our men has 
been such as to entitle them to our thanks. 
We are Sir 

Your humble Servants 

Andrew Ellicott 
Andeew Pokter." 

The four Commissioners, after an arduous summer, re- 
ported on October 29, 178T, that they had extended the 
Line on from the 90th milestone to Lake Erie, and 
" marked the same in a lasting and permanent manner 
by milestones, or posts surrounded by mounds of earth 
where stones could not be procured." ^ 

Nearly a hundred years after this hne was run, the 
marks set up in 1786—87 had in some cases entirely dis- 
appeared, and those still standing were in such a dilapi- 
dated condition that it became necessary to go over the 
line again, and Commissioners were appointed from the 
two States to restore the boundary marks. To the work 
done by Major ElHcott and his associates these later 
Commissioners gave praise in generous measure. " The 
operations of the early Commissioners " — said they — 
" do their memory great credit. The variation from the 
true geographic parallel is small, when the difference in 
precision between the instrument of that day and this is 
taken into consideration." 

The point made by these men of a later generation is 
one that should be held in mind whenever the fineness and 

* Pennsylvania Archives, vol. sd, 526. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 69 

accuracy conceded to be the distinctive mark of all Major 
Ellicott's engineering work is considered. His instru- 
ments were always handmade, usually his own work or 
that of his brother Benjamin, or his friend David Ritten- 
house, and these instruments, primitive as they wei'e, had 
to undergo the hard test of being jarred and jolted over 
the roughest of roads into the very heart of the wilderness, 
or wherever their owner's work might lead him. The Hues 
which Major Ellicott ran with these instruments might 
easily have been hopelessly incorrect, had his own astro- 
nomical wisdom, or his genius for painstaking exactness 
been less than it was. 

In 1788, by the direction of the Supreme Executive 
Council of Pennsylvania, Major ElHcott made a survey 
of the islands in the rivers Alleghany and Ohio, within 
the bounds of that State. ^ 

In 1789, he moved with his family to Philadelpliia 
and settled at No. 16 North 6th Street. Tliis change 
of residence was probably due to the fact of his hav- 
ing so many interests and so many friends in Philadel- 
phia. In the same year, Benjamin Franklin encloses him 
the following certificate in a letter signed " Yours most 
affectionately." 

" I do hereby certify whom it may concern, that I have 
long known M^. Andrew EUicott as a Man of Science ; 
and while I was in the Executive Council have had frequent 
Occasions, in the Course of Pubhc Business, of being 
acquainted with his Abilities in Geographical Operations 
of the most important kind, which were performed by 

^ Colonial Records, vol. xiv, p. 615. See also Pennsylvania Archives, 
vol. xi , 1788. 



70 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

him with the greatest Scientific Accuracy. Given at 
Pliiladelphia this 10th Day of August, 1789. 

B. Franklin 
late President of the State of Pennsylvania." 

This certificate was sent in answer to a request from 
Major ElHcott that he be recommended to the Govern- 
ment for some surveys soon to be made. While willing and 
even anxious to render his friend any service in his power, 
Mr. Frankhn said that he had promised himself never to 
ask a favor for any one, from either the Government or 
the President. While keeping to this resolution, he did 
the next best thing in putting over his own signature 
his appreciation of Major Ellicott's ability. Whether the 
certificate was used or not is uncertain, but in the late 
summer of this same year he was commissioned by the 
United States Government to run the western boundary 
of the State of New York, a survey made necessary by 
the doubt as to whether Presqu' Isle (now Erie, Penn- 
sylvania) lay east or west of the west boundary of New 
York. The inquiry was agitated by Phelps and Gorham, 
who, having purchased the Massachusetts pre-emption 
claim to Western New York, were naturally anxious that 
so desirable a site as that of Presqu' Isle should be proved 
to lie witliin their claim. In September, 1789, with his 
brothers Joseph and Benjamin Ellicott among his assist- 
ants, and with Frederic Saxton as the representative of 
Phelps and Gorham, he began the survey, which by reason 
of its difficulty occupied him until the fall of the fol- 
lowing year. The difficulties he in part foresaw, as is 
shown by the following letter to Gov. Thomas Mifflin of 
Pennsylvania : 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 71 

«Sra — 

Being appointed to run the Line between the western 
boundary of the State of N. York, and the late purchase 
made by this State (of Congress) of a Tract of Country 
lying on the South side of Lake Erie, I shall mention 
some difficulties which will probably attend the execution 
of this business — and first, because the Point which limits 
the State of N. York to the Westward — lies within the 
British Settlements on the West End of Lake Ontario, 
it will therefore be necessary to obtain leave from the 
Commandant at Niagara or the Governor of Canada to 
go within the British lines to commence the business. 
As this will be a matter of science only, and cannot possi- 
bly interfere with either their Jurisdiction or Property, 
we may reasonably expect that a proper representation 
made by authority will be attended with success. The 
second difficulty will be with the Indians, but as they are 
particularly attached to and influenced by the Cols. 
Butler ^ and Brandt,^ I would beg leave to suggest 
the Idea of obtaining their interest by some means or 
other.^ 

And^. Ellicott." 

The line was to run due south of the west end of Lake 
Ontario, and to make the point of beginning accurate, 
as Major Elhcott states, it was necessary to go into 
Canada, to ascertain the west end of Lake Ontario by 

» Colonel Walter Butler. 

' Joseph Brandt, the Mohawk Chief. 

' He mentions elsewhere that " the Seneca Chiefs who will attend on 
behalf of their nation will expect two Rifled guns." He therefore requests 
that he may be provided with them. 



72 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

observation and measurement. But the Revolution had 
been recent and English feeling ran high, and the dis- 
courtesy and hindrance with which Major Ellicott had 
to contend, are set forth at length In his Interesting report 
to General Washington of the first half-year's work.-^ 

" Philadelphia, 
^' Sir Jany. 15th, 1790. 

I arrived in this City the day before yesterday, after 
a long and tedious journey from Fort Erie, and have 
the satisfaction to inform your Excellency that so much 
of the Survey on which I was employed, that fell witliin 
the Territory of his Brittanlclc Majesty is compleated. 
I find the Geography of the Country about the Lakes 
very erroneous, too much so to be even a tolerable guide. 
The south side of Lake Erie Is laid down half a degree 
too far to the South, in the American Atlas published in 
1776, and said to be corrected by Maj"^ Holland, De 
Brahm and others. The same Lake is by Hutchinson 
and M^Murry placed 20 miles too far north, similar error 
attend all that country thro' which I passed. ... A 
corrected Chart of the west end of Lake Ontario, The 
Strait of Niagara, and part of Lake Erie comprehending 
the whole British settlement of Nassau shall be handed 
to your Excellency as soon as I come to New York. . . . 

On my arrival at the Garrison of Niagara on the 21st 
day of October last, I was Introduced by the officer of 
the day. In company with Gen^ Chapen of Massachusetts, 
and Mr. Joseph Ellicott of Baltimore to the Commandant 

* The original of this letter is preserved in the State Department at 
Washington. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 73 

Lieu* Col. Harrlss. After the introduction, I produced 
my Commission which the Coh looked over, and then ad- 
dressed himself to me in the following words. — ' Pray 
Sir what request have you to make from this paper.'* ' 
(meaning the Commission) to which I replied, ' In order 
to execute the duties of my appointment it will be neces- 
sary to go into the Territory of his Britannick Majesty, 
but as you may not be authorized to grant such per- 
mission, an express has been sent on by our Secretary 
of foreign affairs to his Excellency Lord Dorchester, 
Governor of Canada, to obtain this privilege, and if the 
express has not yet arrived, my present request is only 
that myself and party may have the liberty of staying 
in the Country, with such privileges as are allowed to 
other gentlemen from the United States, and wait his 
arrival.' To which the Col. replied ' You cannot have 
permission to stay in this Country, you must leave it Sir.' 
I then informed him that our going away so precipatately 
must be attended with inconveniency to our selves, and the 
present expence of the United States sacrificed to no 
purpose, and as I was confident that the express would 
arrive with the first Vessel, and from a desire to have 
the business executed with all possible despatch I should 
not be very punctilious about the privileges, but would 
willingly be confined to one single Acre of ground, or 
any other space, and under any restrictions, which he 
himself should prescribe, to which he replied ' Your re- 
quest cannot be granted Sir you must leave this Country 
and that with expedition.' I then informed him that 
myself, and companions were much fatigued with a long 
and painful journey, and our Horses broken down with 



74 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

hard duty and the want of food, and that our return home 
might be marked with some degree of certainty, I requested 
the privilege of continuing some few days in the Country 
to refresh ourselves and recruit our horses. To which 
he returned ' I cannot be answerable for your situation. 
You are not to continue in tliis country and if you stay 
anjrwhere in it I shall hear of you and take measures 
accordingly.' I then observed to him that I had some 
Gentlemen in my party, who were very desirous to view 
the falls of Niagara and as this was the only probable 
opportunity which would ever fall in their way, I requested 
that their curiosity might be gratified, particularly as 
the falls were not near any of their posts. To which he 
answered ' Your Gentlemen cannot be gratified. They 
cannot see the falls. Too many people have seen the falls 
already.' I then began to make some observations on 
the common usage of all civilized Nations with regard 
to matters of Science and natural curiosities, but was 
soon interrupted by the Col. ' who desired that I would 
not multiply words on that subject ' that he ' was decisive 
and we must depart.' He then addressed himself to Col. 
Butler of the Rangers (who was present) as follows. 
* Col. it is our Lunchion time, will you go and take a cut 
with us.' Then turning to me, he said * You may retire 
to the Tavern in the Bottom, and purchase such refresh- 
ments as you may want, in the mean time (pointing to 
my Commission, which lay on the Table) ' I will take 
a copy of that paper, after which, the Adjutant shall 
return you the original.' We were then attended by the 
Officer of the Day to the Tavern. After some considera- 
tion I thought it best to make one other request to the 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 75 

Commandant, which was, that myself and party might 
have permission to go to the Indian Settlement on Buffalo 
Creek, which is 30 miles from the Garrison, and in the 
Territory of the United States, and there await the arrival 
of the express. This request was handed to Col. Harriss 
by my companion Gen^ Chapen, but shared the same fate 
as the others. Some time after dark the Adjutant waited 
on us with the enclosed PASS, without which we could 
neither get out of the Garrison nor pass the Indian Settle- 
ments in our own Country. From the tenor of the pass, 
it appears that the Military jurisdiction of the British 
Garrison at Niagara is extended to the Jenesseo River, 
but this in my opinion is more fully confirmed by their 
general conduct in that quarter. After leaving the garri- 
son, we had five miles to ride to join our party, on our 
arrival we gave immediate orders to have our Baggage 
prepared and every measure taken for an early movement 
the next morning, but before we had time to leave the 
ground a Lieut. Clarke waited upon us and renewed the 
orders of the Col. and added ' that the Commandant de- 
sired that our departure might be attended with expedi- 
tion.' We left the ground about 9 oclock in the morning 
and proceeded to the Jenesseo River a distance of near 
100 miles, where we received Lord Dorchester's permission 
to execute any part of our business which might fall in 
the Territory of his Britannick Majesty, by an Express 
sent on by Cap* Guion, who had in the meantime arrived 
at Niagara from Quebec. Although our Horses were 
unable to return, I was nevertheless determined to go on 
with the business. We then employed Canoes to carry 
our Instruments and Baggage down the Jenesseo River 



76 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

to the carrying place, where we procured a Boat, and 
returned up Lake Ontario to Niagara. On our return, 
we were treated with politeness and attention, we entered 
immediately upon the execution of our business which was 
attended with uncommon difficulty and hardship. No 
Horses were to be had in that County at any price, we 
were therefore under the necessity of employing a greater 
number of men than would otherwise have been wanted 
which has added considerably to the expence. 
I have the Honor 

To be with the greatest Esteem your 
Excellencies Hb^ Servt. 

Andeew Ellicott." 

The pass was as follows: 

" By John Adolphus Harriss Esquire — Lieut Colonel 
of the 1st Battalion, 60th Regiment, commanding Niagara, 
etc., etc. 

Permit the Bearers, Andrew Ellicott, Joseph Ellicott, 
Benjamin Ellicott, Jonathan Browns, Isaac Bornet, John 
Sullivan, Israel Chapen and Frederick Seaton [Sexton] 
to pass from hence without delay and by the nearest Route 
to the Genecies." 

The following spring the work was taken up once more, 
and carried as rapidly as possible to completion. Major 
Ellicott wrote to his wife at the beginning of the season 
from Wyoming, June 12, 1790. 

" Deau Salx.y 

We arrived at this place yesterday morning in good 
health, and spirits ; Our horses as yet appear likely to 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 77 

stand the Journey well. The fleas begin to be extreme 
troublesome, and I dread them much more than the hard- 
ships attending such an expedition— . . . You are not 
one moment out of my mind, and I am constantly praying 
that the Deity may have you, and our Children, under his 
care. 

I am My Dear your 

Loving Husband." 

There is then a gap in the usually frequent letters, 
and the next is headed 

"Presque Isle-Fort, October W^'^ 1790. 
"My Deae 

Yesterday I compleated the business I came out upon, 
after much hardship, trouble, and difficulty ; and shall to- 
morrow set out for Niagara, and from thence with every 
expedition possible by the way of New York home. I 
find myself under the necessity of taking that Rout, in 
order to get the Instruments and Baggage to Philadelphia. 
.... The trouble which you must have experienced in 
my absence, . . . has constantly while my Camp has been 
enjoying the blessings of sleep, drew tears from my eyes, 
and shut up every avenue to repose. I have not met with 
any remarkable incident in tliis expedition except in the 
Time of a terrible storm, being seperated from the com- 
pany, and sleeping out, without fire, or any covering, five 

miles from Camp 

I am my Dear your 

Loving and Affectionate 

Husband." 



78 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The line which he describes as having given him so 
much hardship and difficulty was found to pass some 
twenty miles east of Presqu' Isle. It is the present western 
boundary of the State of New York and the east line of 
what is known as the " Presqu' Isle Triangle," which was 
later purchased from the Government by the State of 
Pennsylvania, and is now part of that State. Writing 
to a friend in Albany, N. Y., Major Ellicott remarks that 
" the Indians did not appear to be well disposed toward 
the execution of our business, but after a treaty, and 
receiving some small presents, accompanied with rum and 
tobacco, permitted us to go on." ^ He also adds that 
the land contained in the survey just made is good, and 
" from its peculiar situation an important object to the 
State." 

It was while making the traverse of the Canadian side 
of the Niagara River that Major Ellicott first saw the 
Falls of Niagara, and the first actual measurements of 
the entire length of the river and of the falls and rapids 
from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario were made by him then, 
with his two brothers Joseph and Benjamin as his assist- 
ants. The table of measurements made by Major Elli- 
cott and given by him in his report is as follows : ^ 

Miles Fall 

From Lake Erie to the head of the Rapids . . 20 15 ft. 

From the Rapids to the Falls 1| 51 " 

The Great Fall 162 " 

From the Falls to Lewiston 7 104 " 

From Lewiston to Lake Ontario 7 2 " 

Total 35i 334 ft. 

» Albany Gazette, Nov. 29, 1790. 

* Stuart's Civil and Military Engineers of America, p. 27. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 79 

These measurements of Major Ellicott's, though made 
so long ago, show very little difference from those of to- 
day, and the above table, made by him, was the one used 
as lately as 1871 in all books descriptive of the Falls of 
Niagara. 

A careful and interesting " Description of the Falls," 
contained in a letter from Major Ellicott to Dr. Rush of 
Philadelphia, was published in the European Magazine 
and London Review for October, 1793. In tliis he says 
of the chasm that no person can approach it without 
horror, and adds : " Down this chasm the water rushes 
with a most astonishing velocity, after it makes the great 
pitch. In going up the road near the chasm, the fancy 
is constantly engaged in the contemplation of the most 
romantic and awful prospects imaginable, till, at length, 
the eye catches the Falls : — the imagination is instantly 
arrested, and you admire in silence ! " 



CHAPTER IV 

THE CITY OF WASHINGTON IN THE TERRITORY 
OF COLUMBIA 

1791-1793 

The winter months were usually to Major Ellicott an 
entire and an exceedingly pleasant contrast to the sum- 
mer ones. He exchanged the hardships and responsi- 
biUties of the rough and uncomfortable life of the surveys 
in the wilderness for the ease of the pleasant home in 
Philadelphia, where he could enjoy his dearest possessions, 
the wife and the little flock of children, who were, after 
all, the real interest and joy of his life. In these leisure 
months, too, he could continue undisturbed his astro- 
nomical and scientific pursuits, attend the meetings of 
the Philosophical Society, and enjoy what was to him 
a keen delight, the society of men interested like himself 
in scientific research and discovery, the bright and un- 
restricted exchange of thought with men of equal mind. 

However delightful these two or three months of home 
comfort and rest might be, they were always quickly 
succeeded by the necessity of accepting appointments for 
further State or Government surveys. The honesty of 
his purpose and the excellence of his work had attracted 
the favorable notice of the foremost men of his day, and 



82 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

year by year the commissions he received called him to 
tasks of greater importance, and to fields of work that 
made increasing demands upon has skill and resource. 

With the spring of 1791, a long talked-of undertaking 
of national interest had reached at last the point where 
an active beginning was to be immediately made. This 
was the surveying and laying out of a permanent seat 
of government for the United States. The matter of 
the selection of such a site had long been under discussion, 
and had been the subject of sharp controversy, the 
Northern States wishing it to be near Philadelphia, — a 
not unnatural desire for the Pennsylvanians to have, — 
and at one time Germantown had actually been selected. 
But the fertility of the coiuitry about Philadelphia, ad- 
vanced by many members of Congress, as a reason for 
its becoming, if chosen, a prosperous and desirable centre, 
was not, in General Washington's estimation, of equal 
importance to future desirability, as the advantages offered 
by a site on the Potomac River. 

Washington's views being finally accepted, he was em- 
powered by Congress, July 16, 1790, to select a tract 
on the River Potomac, not to exceed ten miles square, for 
the permanent site of a national capital. He chose a 
square of land, which included the villages of Georgetown 
in Maryland and Alexandria in Virginia, and which is, 
except for the land afterwards ceded back to Virginia, 
the present District of Columbia. The slopes and ele- 
vations of this tract he saw, in imagination, crowned with 
noble buildings, and the deep waters of the Potomac sug- 
gested to him opportunities for commerce, and for quick 
and easy communication with other States. He chose, 




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ANDREW ELLICOTT 83 

with his characteristic farsightedness, not for that year 
only, or the next, but for the future, and the demands 
of the future. 

The site secured, it was necessary that the selected 
tract should be at once accurately surveyed, and that an 
architect should be engaged to lay out the proposed 
Capital City. For the latter work Major Pierre Charles 
L'Enfant, a French military engineer of ability was chosen, 
and subject to the suggestions or directions of the Presi- 
dent and of Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, 
he set about making the plans. Three commissioners were 
also chosen, and given authority over the work in hand. 
They were General Thomas Johnson, the Honorable Daniel 
Carroll of Maryland, and Dr. David Stuart of Virginia, 
Washington's family physician. 

The survey of the ten miles square being the most 
immediate necessity, Major Ellicott was requested by Mr. 
Jefferson, at General Washington's suggestion, to go 
immediately to Georgetown and commence the survey. 
This was in February, 1791. Mr. Jefferson's letter in- 
forms Major Ellicott that he is "desired to proceed by 
the first stage to the Federal Territory on the Potomac 
for the purpose of making a survey of it." With his 
accustomed promptness Major Ellicott set out at once, 
and on February 14 he writes to Mrs. Ellicott of his 
arrival in Alexandria: 

" My Deah/ 

I arrived at this town on tuesday last in good health ;— 
but in consequence of bad weather could not proceed to 
business, (till friday last.) I have been treated with great 



84 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

politeness by the Inhabitants, who are truly rejoiced at 
the prospect of being included in the Federal district. I 
shall leave this town this afternoon to begin the rough 

survey of the ten miles square 

I am my Dear in great hast 

Your Affectionate Husband.'* 

The same day he wrote to Mr. Jefferson giving an 
outline of his plan for the ten miles square. A draft 
of the letter has been preserved, and is as follows: 

" Sir/ 

I arrived at this Town on Monday last but the Cloudy 
weather prevented any observations being made untill 
friday evening which was very fine. 

... I shall submit to your consideration the following 
plan for the permanent location which I believe will em- 
brace every object of Advantage which can be included 
within the ten miles square (Viz) — Beginning at the most 
^ inclination of the upper cape of Hunting Creek 
and running a streight line North westerly ten miles 
making an angle at the beginning of 45° with the Meridian 
for the first line. Then by a streight line into Maryland 
north easterly at right angles to the first, ten miles for 
the second line. Thence by a streight line at right angles 
to the second south easterly ten miles for the third line. 
Thence for the fourth line at right angles to the third 
south westerly ten miles to the beginning on the upper 
cape of Hunting Creek— Or the beginning may be ex- 
pressed more in the spirit of the Proclamation thus 
" Running from the Court House in Alexandria due south 

' Sic. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 85 

west and thence a due south east course till it shall strike 
the River Potomac." . . . 

. . . You will observe by the plan wliich I have sug- 
gested for the Permanent Location a small deviation with 
respect to the courses from those mentioned in the Procla- 
mation, the reason of which is that the courses in the 
Proclamation strictly adhered to would neither produce 
straight lines nor contain quite the ten miles square besides 
the almost impossibility of running such lines with tolerable 
exactness. 

I am Sir with the greatest 

Respect and esteem your 
UhK Serv*. 

And^. Ellicott." ^ 

Early in March, Mr. Jefferson wrote to Major L'Enfant 
desiring him to " proceed to Georgetown, where you will 
find Mr. Ellicott employed in making a survey and map of 
the Federal Territory," and he adds, " The special object 
in asking your aid is to have drawings of the particular 
grounds most likely to be approved for the site of the 
Federal Town and buildings, you will therefore be pleased 
to begin on the eastern branch and proceed from thence 
upwards, laying down the hills, valleys, morasses and waters 
between the Potomac, the Tyber, and the road leading 
from Georgetown to the eastern branch, and connecting 
the whole with certain fixed points on the map Mr. Elli- 
cott is preparing." ^ ■ 

Major Ellicott was at this time hard at work upon 
the survey, assisted by Mr. Briggs, Mr. Fenwick, his 

* From a draft among Major Ellicott's papers. 
^ Jefferson's Correspondence, vol. iii, p. 221. 



86 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

brother Benjamin Ellicott and a unique character, Ben- 
jamin Banneker, the negro mathematician and astron- 
omer.^ His work left Major Ellicott httle leisure for 
correspondence, and there are but few letters from him 
during the next two or three months. He writes from 
Georgetown, March 21st, 1791. 

" My Deab- 

I have taken a few minutes to write to you by Col. 
Thompson— who I expect will deliver this together with 
a small bundle containing a pair of Black Silk Mitts 
and a small smelling Bottle, which I hope you will receive 
as a small testimony of as pure an affection as ever had 
a place in a Human Breast— I have met with many diffi- 
culties for the want of my old hands— and have in con- 
sequence of a most severe attack of the Ififluenza worked 
for many days in extreme pain— I am now perfectly 
recovered and as Fat as you ever saw me— 

... It is now late at night, and my letter carried to 
a great length; but when I call to mind our happy con- 
nection, the consequence of an early attachment, founded 
in Virtue and in Love, I know not where to conclude ; so 
many objects pleasing to my recollection, crowd in upon 
me— 

I am my Dear Sally 

Your Affectionate 

Husband." 

Benjamin Banneker, the mulatto mathematician, was born in 1751. 
His talents attracted much notice. Thomas Jefferson was interested in his 
career, and Condorcet, the Secretary of the French Academy of Science, 
wrote him a complimentary letter. The Maryland Historical Society has 
published a sketch of his life, and a public school in Washington is named 
for him, the " Banneker School." He died in 1804. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 87 

" Mr. Ellicott," says a correspondent of the " Gazette 
of the United States," " finished the first hne of this 
survey of the Federal Territory in Virginia and crossed, 
below the Little Falls, the River Patowmack on the second 
line." This information is headed "Alexandria, Feb. 23d." 
On March 26th the " Gazette " announces, " Mr. ElHcott 
and Major L'Enfant are now engaged in laying out the 
ground on the Patowmac on which the Federal buildings 
are to be erected." 

The President and Mr. Jefferson were constantly and 
actively interested in the plans made, suggesting and 
directing them in accordance with their ideas of the needs 
and demands of the future. On March 28, the President 
came on from Philadelphia to interview the Commis- 
sioners and consult with them. A dinner was given him 
by the Mayor and Corporation of Georgetown, " previous 
to which," he notes in his Diary, " I examined the surveys 
of Mr. Ellicott who had been sent on to lay out the district 
of ten miles square for the federal seat, and also the 
works of Major L'Enfant who has been engaged to make 
a draught of the gr'ds in the vicinity of Georgetown 
and Carrollsburgh on the Eastern Branch." March 30 
he says : " This business being thus happily finished 
and some directions given to the Commissioners, the Sur- 
veyor and Engineer with respect to the mode of lay- 
ing out the district ; surveying the grounds for the 
City and forming them into lots, I left Georgetown, 
dined in Alexandria and reached Mount Vernon in the 
evening." 

One of these suggestions of the President's was that 
the Executive Mansion and the Legislative Department 



88 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

should have the distance of a mile between them to avoid 
any interference of the one with the other. As to the 
arrangement of the streets Mr. Jefferson was of the 
opinion that they could not do better than to imitate 
the straight streets and cross streets of Philadelphia. He 
placed at Major L'Enf ant's disposal a collection of draw- 
ings and plans of the principal cities of Europe, which 
he had gathered while travelling abroad, and writes him, 
in a letter of April 10, 1791, that he has examined his 
papers, and " found the plans of Frankfort-on-the Mayne, 
Carlsruhe, Amsterdam, Strasburg, Paris, Orleans, Bor- 
deaux, Lyons, Montpelier, Marseilles, Turin and Milan," 
which he " sends in a roll by the post." He says further, 
" For the Capitol I should prefer the adoption of some 
one of the models of antiquity which have the appro- 
bation of thousands of years and for the Presidents house 
I should prefer the celebrated fronts of modern dwellings 
which have the approbation of all good judges. Such are 
the Galerie du Louvre, the Gardes Meubles and the two 
fronts of the Hotel de Salen." ^ 

While these wise heads were engaged over the plans 
of architecture and situation whose result is the beautiful 
and unique arrangement of parks, circles, and avenues, 
which has been described as " Philadelphia griddled across 
Versailles,"^ Major Ellicott was pushing on the work 
of the survey through the somewhat unattractive out- 
lying lands of the district. He writes slightingly of its 
advantages, or the lack of them, from the " Surveyors 
Camp, State of Virginia," June 26, 1791. 

* Jefferson's Correspondence, vol. iii, p. 236 

' The City of Washington, John A. Porter, p. 543. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 89 

" My Dear Sally 

Since my last which was forwarded by our friend Adam 
Hoops ^ nothing material has transpired except the re- 
turn of the President- . . . The Country thro' which 
we are now cutting one of the ten-mile lines is very poor ; 
I think for near seven miles on it there is not one House 
that has any floor except the earth; and what is more 
strange, it is in the neighbourhood of Alexandria, and 
George-Town,- we find but little Fruit, except Huckel 
berries, and live in our Camp, as retired as we used to 
do on Lake Erie- Labouring Hands in this Country can 
scarcely be had at any rate ; my estimate was twenty ; 
but I have to wade slowly thro' with six, — this scarcity 
of hands will lengthen out the time much beyond what 
I intended,- As the President is so much attached to this 
coilntry, I would not be willing that he should know my 
real sentiments about it.- But with you, {my Dear) whose 
love, and affection, I have constantly experienced, almost 
from my infancy, I am not afraid to make my sentiments 
known.— 

This country intended for the Permanent Residence 
of Congress, bears no more proportion to the Country 
about Philadelphia, and German-Town, for either wealth 
or fertility, than a Crane does to a stall-fed Ox!— . . . 
I am My Dear Sally your 

Affectionate Husband." 

A letter from Georgetown, August 9, 1791, shows his 
good feeling towards his co-worker Major L'Enfant. 

* Major Adam Hoops, a distinguished soldier and engineer. He was at 
one time on General Washington's staff, and was with General Sullivan in 
his celebrated campaign. He was associated with all the early surveys of 
western and northern New York. 



90 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

" My Dearest Sally 

Next Monday two weeks at farthest I shall leave this 
for Philadelphia— 

I am now so compleatly tired of being from home that 
I would willingly resign my appointments rather than 
suffer so much anxiety and pain— .... I am determined 
though poverty should pursue me to live at home and 
cherish the most affectionate of wives— . . . We have a 
most eligant Camp and things are in fine order but where 
you are not there are no charms— One of our Hands was 
killed last week by the falling of a Tree— I expect my 
companion Major L'Enfant which is pronounced in Eng- 
lish Lonfong will pay you a visit in my name some time 
next week he is a most worthy French Gentleman and 
though not one of the most handsome of men he is from 
his good breeding and native politeness a first rate fa- 
vourite among the ladies- 

I am my dear Sally 

Your Affectionate 

Husband." 

The 17th of October, 1791, is a memorable date, as 
being that of the first pubhc sale of lots in the new City, 
which the Commissioners had by now decided to call the 
" City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia." 
One of the briefest of Major ElHcott's letters announces 
the fact of the sale and the consequent activity of all 
concerned : 

« My Deak Sally/ " ^^o- Town O t irth , 1791. 

Lady Washington has undertaken to have this handed 
to you immediately on her arrival in Philadelphia— The 




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ANDREW ELLICOTT 91 

most pleasing information I can give jou at present is 
that I am in good health— but hurried off of my legs and 
bothered out of my senses,— This is the day of the sale 
of the Public lotts in the new City of Washington- You 
may expect that I have but few leisure minutes for writ- 
ing— Lady Washington will leave [this] place immediately. 
I am My Dear Sally 

Yours Affectionately 

And^ Elmcott." 

Trouble had for some time been brewing between Major 
L'Enfant and the Commissioners over various matters, and 
this sale of lots brought the smouldering wrath between 
them to a blaze. The situation then reached a crisis which 
necessitated its being laid before the President, and he 
wrote to David Stuart, one of the Commissioners from 
Philadelphia, on Nov. 20, 1791, that he had " heard, before 
the receipt of your letter of the 29. of October and with 
a degree of surprise and concern not easy to be expressed, 
that Major L'Enfant had refused the map of the Federal 
City when it was requested by the commissioners for the 
satisfaction of the purchasers at the sale." He adds, " It 
is much to be regretted, however common the case is, that 
men who possess talents which fit them for peculiar pur- 
poses should almost invariably be under the influence of 
an untoward disposition. . . . But I did not expect to 
have met with such perverseness in Major L'Enfant as his 
late conduct exhibited." ^ 

In the same letter General Washington characterizes 
Major Ellicott as " a man of uncommon talents . . . 
and of a more placid temper." It was well that he was 
^ The Writings of Washington, Ford, vol. xii, p. 87. 



92 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

possessed of those desirable qualities. He was shortly 
called upon to exercise them both, for the troubles be- 
tween L'Enfant and the Commissioners growing worse 
instead of better, the former was dismissed in March, 
and the task of completing his share of the work fell 
upon Major Ellicott, Mr. Jefferson writing the Commis- 
sioners to that effect on March 6, 1792, in a letter which 
states that " it having been found impracticable to employ 
Major L'Enfant about the Federal City in that degree 
of subordination which was lawful and proper, he has 
been notified that his services are at an end. . . . Ellicott 
is to go on and finish laying off the plan on the ground 
and surveying and plotting the District." ^ 

While it is true that L'Enfant must have been hot- 
headed and hard to deal with, the three commissioners 
seem to have seen to it that the paths of those who were 
placed under their authority were made as thorny as pos- 
sible on all occasions. Yet they were all three men of 
prominence, and their faults appear to have been of dis- 
position rather than of incompetence. General Johnson, 
who had been Governor of his State, is described as having 
been " of a brusque and impetuous manner, given to 
strange oaths but of a kindly disposition and marked 
executive ability." Daniel Carroll was at this time a 
member of Congress, owner of a great estate, " aristo- 
cratic in feeling and somewhat dictatorial in tone." 
Dr. Stuart was a practising physician in Alexandria, 
" an elderly benevolent gentleman, fond of quoting the 
classics." ^ 

* Jefferson's Correspondence, vol. iii, p. 336. 

^ History of Washington, Charles Burr Todd, p. 20. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 93 

Major Ellicott soon found that to preserve peace with 
these gentlemen called for the fullest use of his good tem- 
per; he wrote Mrs. Elhcott on the 18th of April, 1792: 

"... My time here has yet passed heavily on. — I 
have not even been so polite as to pay one regular visit. 
— I shall endeavour to do my duty ; but many difficulties 
of a serious nature have arisen between the proprietors, 
and commissioners, which, (require all my address to pre- 
vent the bad effects thereof and) adds much to my embar- 
risments.— If nothing uncommon should intervene to pre- 
vent, I shall certainly be with you some time next month. 
May god protect you— 

I am my dearest Sally 

Your Affectionate 

Husband." 

He was at this time beginning the plan of the city 
which was to supersede L'Enfant's incomplete one. The 
plan which L'Enfant had made and submitted to the Presi- 
dent had failed to meet with entire approval; it had been 
sent to the House of Representatives, Dec. 13, 1791, for 
their inspection, had been withdrawn, and given back to 
L'Enfant, who positively refused to permit any use to be 
made of it afterwards, and Major Ellicott then drew a 
, new plan, made from his knowledge of the now unavailable 
'plan of Major L'Enfant; from materials which he had in 
his own possession, and from his actual surveys of the 
ground. This plan was adopted and engraved ; its mak- 
ing was of course a question of time, and it was not until 
1793 that he was able to leave Washington, with the 



94 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

business, so far as his personal attention was required, 
completed. He was hurried, throughout all this time, by 
the desire of the Commissioners to sell lots as fast as 
possible, and hurry was naturally directly opposed to his 
careful, painstaking methods of work. His disagreement 
with the Commissioners (to be referred to shortly in his 
correspondence) grew from their accusation that he wasted 
time. This view of theirs accords iU with his letter of 
Oct. 10, 1792: 

" My Dear Sally 

I have been so buisy for two weeks past, that I have 
scarcely had time to either shave, or Comb my Head, and 
do not expect one minute's leisure before next Sunday— 
The President and his Lady were here yesterday, she 
Wanted to be the bearer of a Letter to you, but I had not 
time to write— ... I have sent by the bearer M'^. Green, 
(a Friend of mine) a silver Pipe as a present for Father 
Brown. You will observe the innitials of his name in 
cyphers on the Bowl.— May God bless you, and our little 
ones— 

I am D^ Sally yours 

Affectionately 

And^ Ellicott." 

The next letter, of December 14, shows that the placidity 
of his temper had become much disturbed. 

" My Dear Sally 

Our work here is so far advanced, that I have some 
thoughts of staying about three weeks longer than I in- 
tended when I wrote to you last.— It will prevent the 
necessity of my returning here again to stay any con- 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 95 

siderable time .- I begin to dislike the whole place, and 
have become too illnatured to associate with any beings 
except my four assistants- I have spoke to but one female, 
and to her but once, for a week past- I eat alone in the 
Office, to which I confine myself as closely as a Bear to 
his den in the Winter- .... I am my dear Sally, neither 
flattering you, nor myself, when I declare that in my 
opinion, you are the first Lady of all my acquaintance, 
whether considered as a Mother, wife, or an agreeable com- 
panion- and if I should ever propose staying at this place 
more than a month unless in your company, shew me this 
letter, and ask me what my feelings were when writing it- 
I am my Dear Sally 

Your loving Husband." 

On Jan. 1st he signed a certificate that — 

"... These Hues [the District boundaries] are opened, 
and cleared forty feet wide, that is, twenty feet on each 
side of the hues limiting the Territory: And in order to 
perpetuate the work, I have set up squared mile stones, 
marked progressively with the number of miles from the 
beginning on Jones's Point, to the west corner, •. . . 
thence to the place of beginning on Jones's point ; except 
in a few cases where the miles terminated on declivities, 
or in waters: ... On the sides of the stones facing the 
Territory is inscribed, ' Jurisdiction of the United States,' 
On the opposite sides of those placed in the commonwealth 
of Virginia, is inscribed ' Virginia,' And on those in the 
State of Maryland, is inscribed ' Maryland.' On the third 
and fourth sides, or faces, is inscribed the Year, in which 
the stone was set up, and the variation of the Magnetic 



96 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Needle at that place. In addition to the foregoing works 
I have compleated a Map of the four lines with an half 
mile on each side, including the said District, or Territory, 
with a survey of the different waters. 

Witness my hand this first day of January, 1793. 

And'^ Ellicott." 

Of the boundary stones set to mark the limits of the 
city itself, two at least are still standing, the " North 
Meridian Stone " on North Capitol Street, and the fourth 
stone, set by Major Ellicott at 15th and C streets, N. E. 
Both stones have been passed as boundaries long since. 
The city has extended at least a mile beyond the North 
Meridian Stone, and it was in fact entirely lost to sight 
until 1903, when the Engineer Corps of the District of 
Columbia, after much troublesome search, located it. It 
was almost entirely buried beneath dirt and rubbish and 
was considerably below the established grade of the street. 
Its preservation was accomplished by levelling off the top 
and placing thereon a copper slab whose inscription re- 
cords the fact that it marks the original north boundary 
of the City of Washington. The location of the stone is 
thus known and marked, although the stone itself is be- 
neath the surface and out of sight. 

The stone at 15th and C streets, which had at one time 
been moved, was found in 1895 and re-set in its old place. 
It is also inscribed, and, like the North Meridian Stone, 
stands as a fitting memorial of the original limitations of 
the city.^ 

On January 9, 1793, Major Ellicott wrote to Mr. 
Jefferson : 

* Records on file in the War Department, Washington. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 97 

« Sir 

From a conversation which I had with you some time 
ago I remember you was desirous of discovering the In- 
dian name of the Eastern Branch of the Potomak— By 
some old surveys it appears to be Annakostia— 

The reasons of my Disagreement with the Commis- 
sioners and ultimate determination to quit the business 
of the City of Washington on the first day of May next 
shall be pubhshed immediately after that date— And I 
have no doubt but that from a clear investigation of facts 
my conduct and exertions will be approved by the candid 
and deserving. 

I am Sir 

with much Esteem 

Your real Friend 

And"^ Ellicott." ^ 

It is evident he felt keenly that he was meeting with 
injustice; and that his friends also felt that any criticism 
of his method of work or of his industry was unfair, is 
evidenced by the following " certificate " from Mr. Briggs : 

" City op Washington, January 12^^ 1793. 

"... Nothing . . . but extreme indisposition— and 
not always even that— has ever appeared to me to divert 
his attention from his business, or to abate his anxious en- 
deavors to promote the general interest of the City of 
Washington, with the approbation, if possible, of both 
commissioners and proprietors. 

I shall produce one instance, out of many, of his extreme 
attention to his duty: when we were running the bound- 
ary lines of the Territory of Columbia, being obliged to 

* From a draft among Major Ellicott's papers. 



98 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

transact . . . the general business of his office in George 
Town on Saturday evenings and Sundays, he used actually 
to arrive at our camp on the lines, at no less distance than 
seven miles from that town, on monday morning before 
it was hght enough to see distinctly without a candle ;— 
It was also his usual custom to breakfast by candle-light 
in the morning ; the labors of the day commenced before 
sun rise, and he did not retire from them but with retiring 
day-light— frequently not even for dinner— In short, I 
do not believe it possible for a man, aiming solely at the 
augmentation of his private fortune, or the attainment 
of his reigning wish, to be more indefatigable in the pur- 
suit, or constant in his exertions, than Major Ellicott 
always appeared to me to be in the faithful execution 
of the public business committed to his charge. 

Such conduct in a public servant, although the rigid 
moralist may call it no more than duty, is certainly meri- 
torious, and demands the esteem and approbation of every 
unprejudiced mind. 

T: Briggs." 

His own opinion of his detractors Major Ellicott ex- 
presses roundly in his next letter to his wife: 

" My Dear Sally " ^eo. Town Jany 15th 1793. 

Owing to my disagreement with the commissioners, and 
one, or two, other causes, I was prevented from dining with 
you, on the first of this month- My disagreement with the 
commissioners, has gone to such a length, that I have given 
them notice, that I shall leave the Avork on the first day 
of May next- I have received treatment from them, that 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 99 

would justify me in any measure whatever- . . . Neither 
credit, nor reputation, will ever be the lot of a single 
person, who enters into their service. ... I dislike the 
place, and every day adds to my disgust.- Where you 
are, there is all my happiness, and if I can manage matters 
in such a manner, as to be able to support you, as you 
deserve, without leaving you again, you may rest assured, 
that my arms shall enfold you every night, and as far 
as my conversation can add to your amusement, it shall 
the remainder of our lives be daily dedicated to your 
service.— .... 

Your loving and affectionate 

Husband." 

But the high estimation in which he was held by the 
President, by Mr. Jefferson, and by all who could appre- 
ciate his entire honesty of purpose, turned the scales so 
completely in his favor that his next letter records his 
triumph, and his pleasure in that triumph: 

« My Dear Sai.i.y/ " ^eo. Town April 10t^ 1793. 

I have just taken a few minutes to acquaint you that 
I am in good health, and have been so ever since I left 
your Arms- The singular situation into which I was 
thrown immediately on my arrival at this place, and 
the doubtful issue, prevented my writing until a final 
determination, which was had yesterday. My victory was 
complete; and all my men reinstated in the City, after a 
suspension of one month.- As my reputation depended on 
this determination, I neglected nothing in my power to 
defeat the commissioners; but had to contend very un- 

LOFC. 



100 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

equally owing to all my papers being seized- by their 
order the day after I returned from Philadelphia. — And 
this day they were all restored to me again ! ! ! this vic- 
tory has cost me at least £75. The defeat of the commis- 
sioners has given great pleasure to the inhabitants of this 
place, and when I went into the City yesterday after the 
determination, the joy of every person concerned in the 
business was evident, and it was with difficulty that they 
were prevented from huzzaing.— Briggs behaved like a 
true friend, and a man of sense and prudence. . . . 
I am my Dearest Sally 

Your Affectionate 

Husband. 

P. S. Yours by the President came to hand — I think 
my victory in some measure was owing to him." 

As to how far the city plan was L'Enfant's or how far 
Major Ellicott's, there can be no definite statement made. 
The completed plan, from which the engravings were made, 
was drawn by Major Ellicott, " partly from L'Enfant's 
draughts, partly from his own materials." The fact that 
L'Enfant's plans were used whenever practicable, and as 
far as practicable, has never been denied. 

At the last, it must be said that they were both men of 
unusual talent (working for many months together), and 
that a city of unusual beauty and nobility of design is 
the product of their work, a work directed largely by the 
wise and far-sighted President. A fair-minded statement, 
and perhaps as brief and exact a one as could be made 
of the relative part played by each toward the accom- 








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ANDREW ELLICOTT 101 

pllshment of the plan of the city, is found in a letter 
from three later commissioners to Mr. Dennis, chairman 
of a committee of Congress, headed " At the Commissioners 
Office, March 23, 1802." 

"... Major L'Enf ant's plan of the city," it states, 
" was sent to the House of Representatives on the 13. 
December 1791, by President Washington for the infor- 
mation of the House, and afterwards withdrawn. Many 
alterations were made therefrom by Major Ellicott with 
the approbation of the President and under his authority. 
All the appropriations (except as to the Capitol and the 
President's house) were struck out and the plan, thus 
altered, sent to the engraver. These changes from 
L'Enfant's plan took place in the year 1792, and the 
pubhc plan appears to have been engraved in October 
of that year. . . . This plan being made partly from 
L'Enfant's draughts and partly from material possessed 
by ElHcott." 1 

And in the report communicated to the House of Repre- 
sentatives by Mr. Dennis, April 8, 1802, he says: 

" Your committee finds that the plan of the City was 
originally designed by Mr. L'Enfant, but that it was in 
many respects rejected by the President of the United 
States and a plan was drawn up by Mr. Ellicott, pur- 
porting to have been made by actual survey, which recog- 
nized the alterations made therein and which was engraved 
and pubhshed by the order of General Washington in the 
year 1792. 

" This plan was circulated by the Government through- 
1 American State Papers, vol. xx, p. 333. 



102 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

out the United States and sent to the public agents in 
Europe, by authority of the Government, as the plan of 
the city, and is the only one which has ever been engraved 
and published." ^ 

This would seem to be final, but the last word on the 
subject may be left to General Washington himself, who 
wrote with liis own hand: 

"... That many alterations have been made from 
L'Enfant's plan by Major Ellicott with the approbation 
of the Executive is not denied. That some were deemed 
essential is avowed, and had it not been for the materials 
which he happened to possess, it is probable that no en- 
graving from L'Enfant's draughts ever would have been 
exhibited to the public, for after the disagreement took 
place between him and the commissioners, his obstinacy 
threw every difficulty in the way of its accomplishment. 

Mr. Davidson is mistaken if he supposes that the trans- 
mission of L'Enfant's plan to Congress was the comple- 
tion thereof, so far from it, it was only given as a matter 
of information to show what state the business was in." ^ 

It is not necessary to seek to detract in any way from 
the originality and acknowledged brilliance of Major 
L'Enfant's plan, in order to prove of what paramount 
importance Major EUicott's completion of it was toward 
the accomplishment of the plans as a whole. General 
Washington's words may fitly be taken as the final ones, 
and his statement that but for Major Ellicott no per- 
manent plans would ever have resulted is surely the most 

* American State Papers, p. 330. 
2 Ibid., vol. XX, p. 334. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 103 

fitting and lasting tribute to the importance of the ser- 
vices which Major ElHcott rendered in the making of the 
City of Washington, a city which fully realized all the 
expectations and hopes concerning it, and which has even 
more of beauty than it had in the visions of its founders. 
What Major Elhcott accomplished on these Washing- 
ton surveys and plans has been held by some students of 
his life to have been his most important public work. 
This view is somewhat difficult to take, when his further 
surveys, and his negotiations with the Indian tribes, and 
with the representatives of a foreign country are taken 
into consideration. That it stands high on the list of 
his services to his country is undeniable, and the appre- 
ciation of its permanent value will ever increase, and not 
diminish, so long as the words of General Washington 
are remembered, — that without Major Ellicott the plans 
of Wasliington in the beauty and freshness of their first 
conception would have been lost to us forever. 



CHAPTER V 

THE ROAD TO PRESQU'ISLE FORT 

1793-1795 

By May, 1793, the business at Washington had so far 
progressed that Major ElHcott was able to leave its fur- 
ther details to his brothers Joseph and Benjamin ElHcott 
and his two assistants Mr. Briggs and Mr. Fenwick. All 
four were competent engineers and had been associated 
with him on the surveys of the Federal city from the 
beginning. 

Major ElKcott had been able, even while actively en- 
gaged upon the work at Washington, to give a portion 
of his time at least to other matters. In November and 
December, 1792, he had made a survey for his friend 
Robert Morris, in western New York, which, locally at 
least, had been of great importance. 

OHver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, who had pur- 
chased from Massachusetts her pre-emption right to lands 
in western New York, in 1790 sold a large tract of this 
land to Robert Morris. This tract included the location 
of Geneva, then a small settlement, beautifully situated 
on Seneca Lake on or near the site of the old Indian 
village of Kanedasaga, and adjoining the lands known 
as the "Livingston Indian Lessees Company's Tract." 



106 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The original line between these two tracts had been run 
by Col. Hugh Maxwell for Phelps and Gorham, and by 
a Mj. Jenkins for the " Lessees." It began at the 82d mile- 
stone of the north line of Pennsylvania, and ran through 
to Lake Ontario. This line was known as the " Pre- 
emption Line " and passed, according to the Maxwell- 
Jenkins survey, a mile and a quarter west of Geneva 
village. 

Robert Morris, being dissatisfied with this survey, in 
November, 1792, employed Major Ellicott to go over the 
Pre-emption line and ascertain its correct position. This 
he did, having with him as assistant Augustus Porter, 
and they found the true line to run as far east of Geneva 
as the Lessees' surveyor had made it west. Axemen felled 
the timber on the new line, to a width of thirty feet, and 
the survey was made down this hne to the head of Seneca 
Lake. 

Mr. Jenkins claimed that the attraction of the mag- 
netic needle by certain minerals was responsible for his 
mistake. But the beautiful site of Geneva which he was 
anxious to secure for his employers has ever been held 
by those most nearly concerned to have been the real 
attraction. Judge Porter, in his " Reminiscences," says : 
" I was with Mr. Ellicott and assisted him in the survey." 
He further tells how, working with the end of the lake 
between them, twelve miles apart, they signalled by lan- 
terns at night, the distance making any other mode of 
communication impossible. " The mode of doing so was 
as follows : I raised two lights, one quite high, the other 
less elevated. Mr. Ellicott did the same, both being pro- 
vided with telescopes. He then moved his shorter light 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 107 

(his longer one being fixed on the line he was running) 
in the direction he wished me to move mine, right or left, 
until my shorter or moveable light was on the true merid- 
ian, when, as previously agreed on, he was to indicate I 
was right by placing his lower light immediately under 
his higher one." ^ 

Major Ellicott's line, ever afterwards conceded to be 
the true line, and used in all subsequent surveys, was run 
by means of a transit instrument made by himself. There 
was at that time but one other such instrument to be 
-found in the United States, and that was one made by 
Major Ellicott's good and gifted friend David Ritten- 
house. This is learned from a letter written in 1795 by 
Simeon DeWitt, then Surveyor General of the United 
States.^ 

This brief but decisive piece of work finished. Major 
EUicott returned to Washington, and was there until the 
following JNIay, when he went home to prepare for a task 
full of danger, difficulty, and privation. On the 15th of 
April, 1793, " In the name and by the authority of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," he had been appointed 
by Governor Mifflin, together with Gen. Wm. Irvine and 
John Wilkens, Jr., commissioner for viewing and laying 
out, on the most eligible ground, a road from Reading to 
Presqu'Isle. 

There is but little in the terms of the commission to 
suggest to the imagination the dangers and hardships in- 

* Reminiscences of Judge Augustus Porter. Manuscript in possession of 
the Buffalo Historical Society. 

2 Field Book 35, Sub-division B. Manuscript Department of the State 
Library at Albany. 



108 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

volved, and we should not have a hint of Major ElKcott's 
entire reahzation of the character of these wilderness mis- 
sions on which he so cheerfully set forth, were it not for 
a warning which he gave to a young man whom he en- 
gaged to go with him as a surveyor on this very expedi- 
tion. With his characteristic straightforwardness Major 
ElHcott was careful to explain to this young man, Enoch 
Lewis by name, that the " proposed expedition would not 
be accomplished without privation and exposure, and that 
the hardships incident to a long journey in the wilderness 
far beyond the limits of the white settlements, and the 
risk of sickness with such miserable attendance as a camp 
could supply, ought not to be encountered without due 
consideration, and that the dangers arising from the 
revengeful feelings of the Indians with whom a fierce war 
had been recently waged, and whose peaceful dispositions 
could not be relied on, were not to be disregarded." ^ 

In spite of this clear understanding of what was to be 
expected in the wilderness. Major Elhcott started cheer- 
fully off himself, and took his own eldest son, Andrew, 
then a lad of seventeen, with him ; and Enoch Lewis, in no 
wise daunted by the warning he had received, went with 
them. 

A fragment of a diary, kept on some leaves torn evi- 
dently from a notebook, records the journey toward the 
place of beginning. 

May 20*^. left the city of Philadelphia and proceeded 
to Pottsgrove the weather extreme cold for the season 
and we found fires necessary. 

* Memoir of Enoch Lewis, p. 24. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 109 

21 St. Left Pottsgrove about 6 OClock A. M. and pro- 
ceeded to Reading where we dined and from thence con- 
tinued our journey to Womoldorphs Town This day 
we had one shower— 

22^. Left Womoldorphs Town about I/2 ^n hour after 
four OClock A. M. and proceeded to Lebanon where we 
brakefasted at this place I discovered that owing to the 
negligence of the Stage driver or to theft part of my 
baggage was missing I immediately despatched M''. 
Burgess back to make the necessary inquiries. We 
then proceeded to Harrisburgh where we continued all 
night. . . . 

23*1. Rested badly last night owing to a prodigious 
noise occasioned by a concert of Musick at our lodgings— 
The musicians put a trick upon the inhabitants and one 
of them tricked his Companion by slipping off with all 
the money which amounted to about 50 dollars— A heavy 
rain this morning — The Stage will not leave this till 
tomorrow this day was therefore spent at Harrisburgh. 
The fidler who was left by his companion had no money 
to pay his reconing the landlord let him off by a promise 
of payment at some future day— This was a trick upon 
the landlord to get clear of the reconing for the heroes 
joined each other over the River and proceeded with ex- 
pedition towards Carlisle. The trick they put upon the 
inhabitants of Harrisburgh was by advertising a concert 
of musick by a full band for the benefit of a M*". Abbot. 
Tickets of admission 3/9— The whole concert consisted 
of a drunken Fidler and a performer on the German Flute. 

24th^ Proceeded to Carlisle— Examined the Horses 
which had been sent on from Pittsburgh for our use they 



110 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

are poor miserable creatures and I fear not able to perform 
the journey 

25^^^. Left Carlisle about 9 OClock in the morning.— 
one of our horses exceeding lame. Arrived at Strasburgh 
about 7 OClock in the evening— My company now consists 
of the following Gentlemen Viz Mess^^. Simpson, Burgess, 
Lewis, Evans, Hoops, Smith and A. A. Ellicott. 

26^K Proceeded to M^. Wilds Tavern at the foot of 
the sidhng Hill. 

^1^^\ Proceeded to M'". Wards lately Todds Tavern- 
Stopped . . . and paid a visit to my old Friend Geo. 
Woods Esq^— His son George had the evening before 
brought home his young wife — I partook of the home- 
bringing entertainment. 

28^^^. Proceeded to Stoystown. . . . 

29. rode to Baldrages. . . . 

30. Arrived at Pittsburgh— .... General Irvine ^ 
joined me on the 2^ [of June]. . . . Pittsburgh as I have 
already observed in my journal 11 years ago stands at 
the confluence of the Allegany and Monongehilia Rivers 
the junction of which forms the Ohio— The situation will 
be regarded as a great thouroghfare and the trade, of 
course, considerable— being on a point of land and a large 
river on the two sides . . . the inhabitants can never 
enjoy the advantages of extensive walks— 

^ William Irvine was born in Ireland in 1741. He was educated to be a 
surgeon, and at the time of the Revolution was practising in Carlisle, Pa. 
He joined the Continental Army, and became a Brigadier-General. Subse- 
quently to the Revolution he commanded troops at Fort Pitt and other posts. 
He was a commissioner or agent in charge of pubhc lands, was a member 
of Congress from 1793 to 1795, and at the time of his death was President 
of his State Society of the Cincinnati. He died in Philadelphia in 1804. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 111 

Sunday June 8^^. Tliis and the three precceding days 
have been the hottest I ever experienced in this country 
and could find no means of keeping myself comfortable 
but by frequently bathing in one or other of the rivers- 
Yesterday we sent off the surveyors to measure the road 
from this place to Venango." 

From lack of record of any adverse circumstances, it 
is inferred that the survey went on throughout the summer 
of 1793 without any interference or opposition from the 
Indians, and in the fall the surveying party returned 
home by the way of Pittsburgh for those winter months 
when field work was an impossibility. 

By the following spring, however, the Chiefs of the 
Six Nations were aroused to what they chose to con- 
sider an invasion of their territory, and Major Ellicott's 
letters to various officials who were associated or inter- 
ested in the building of the Presqu'Isle road give more 
than a hint of the apprehended hostility of the Indians. 
He wrote to General Irvine from Pittsburgh, May 23, 
1794:1 

" Deah Sir 

I arrived in this place early on tuesday morning last and 
have since been endeavouring to obtain such information 
as may be relied on respecting the disposition of the In- 
dians, but the accounts are so vague, and in some cases 
so contradictory, that nothing less than a spirit of divi- 
nation could enable a person to draw any certain con- 
clusions from them. One company of surveyors from 

* Copied from a draft among Major Ellicott's papers. 



112 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

a strong presumption of danger quitted the woods on 

Wednesday last and returned to this place 

With esteem yours 

A. Ellicott." 

And to A. J. Dallas, Secretary of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, evidently in answer to a communication 
from Governor Mifflin : ^ 

« Sir/ " PiTTSBUKGH, June 6tli, 1794. 

. . . Please to inform the Governor that I shall make 
a point of attending carefully to the present situation 
of the roads, and of the contracts immediately after my 
return from Le Beuff and Venango, for which posts I 
shall set out this Afternoon in order to have our stores 

and Instruments taken care of 

I am Sir your real 

Friend 

A. Ellicott." 

Governor Mifflin had already instructed Captain Denny, 
commandant at Presqu' Isle, to " promote the work of 
the Commissioners in every way, but peculiarly to avoid 
giving any occasion of offence to the Peaceable Indians 
or to the British Garrisons in that quarter." Despite 
this pacific injunction the Governor wrote to President 
Jefferson a month later urging the necessity of protecting 
the frontier and saying that " a firm hand will better 
make the Indians behave than a seeming deference." This 
latter view was also that of Major Ellicott. 

The business of the Commissioners was not only the 
laying out of roads, but also the " laying and establish- 
* Copied from a draft among Major Ellicott's papers. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 113 

ing Towns and outlets within the several tracts of land 
heretofore reserved for public uses, situated respectively 
at Presque Isle on Lake Erie " (now Erie), " at the mouth 
of French Creek" (now Franklin), "at the mouth of 
Conewango Creek" (now Warren), "and at Fort Le 
Beouf " (now Waterford), all in Pennsylvania. 

The surveys were much hindered by the Indians, who 
claimed that the lands now being surveyed had not been 
legally purchased from them. Major Ellicott mentions 
apprehended trouble from them in a letter to Captain 
Denny, written from Fort Franklin, June 14, 1794.^ 

" Sir/ 

From the best information which can be collected re- 
specting the present disposition of the six nations there 
is reason to apprehend that owing to British influence 
they are meditating an attack upon this place- On which 
account considering the weak state and great importance 
of this post both to the United States and State of Penn- 
sylvania it appears necessary for your detachment to 
remain at this place until the arrival of Cap*. Obeal who 
has been sent for by Gen. Wilkins and myself— It must 
be evident that if we should proceed to Lebeuf and the 
Indians to obtain possession of this post that our retreat 
would be cut off and the inhabitants of Cassawago left 
to the mercy of the savages. 

I am Sir 

with great esteem 

and regard 

And Ei/Licott." 
* From a draft. 



114 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The result of the private conference with Captain 
O'Bail (Corn-planter) ^ is not recorded, but a conference 
was held by General Israel Chapin, Commissioner to the 
Six Nations, at Buffalo Creek, June 26, 1794, where 
they were fully represented by their most eloquent chiefs. 
The previous day Major Ellicott had written to General 
Chapin from 

" Dear Sir/ " ^^^'^ ^^ Bexjtt, June 25tli 1794.^ 

.... I shall have no objection to an interview with 
the Chiefs of the six nations and hearing their complaints 
if any— Cap^ Obeal is mistaken about his warrior being 
lost below Venango— he is now at that place and has been 
constantly treated with respect by the white people— In 
a drunken frolic an Indian was killed by one Robinson 
at that Post and they in return have killed five for him. 
... I shall be glad to see you, my old friend. I am with 
much esteem 

Your real Friend 

A. Ellicott." 

Relative to these Indian troubles. Major Ellicott wrote 
to Governor Mifflin from Le Boeuf, June 29, 1794.^ 

* " Cornplanter " (Captain O'Bail) the haK-breed Seneca chief, son of 
John O'Bail, an Indian trader, was born in 1732. Although he had been, 
with his tribe, the enemy of the Americans diuing the frontier warfare of 
western New York, he later became their sincere friend, and greatly influ- 
enced his people in their favor. He died at the Seneca Reservation, Pa., 
in 1836. 

^ From a draft. 

^ From a draft. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 115 

" Sir, 

In my last Letter ... I mentioned that you might 
expect to hear from me both from Fort FrankHn and 
Le Bouef, but ... no opportunity occurred of writing 
from the first. On my arrival there the place appeared 
to be in such a defenceless Situation, that .... we re- 
mained there some time and employed the troops in ren- 
dering it more tenable The Garrison at present 

consists of twenty-five men, .... double that number 
would not be more than sufficient, considering the Impor- 
tance of the Safety of the Settlements on French Creek. 
At Fort Franklin Gen^ Wilkins and myself wrote to the 
Corn-planter to attend there that we might have an 
opportunity of explaining to him the nature of our busi- 
ness. . . . After repairing Fort Franklin we proceeded 
to this place, and are now beginning to strengthen the 
works here so as to render it a safe deposit for military 
and other Stores. . . . 

I am your Real Friend 

A. Ellicott." 

The conference at Buffalo Creek was far from being 
final or satisfactory, and the chiefs spoke in " threaten- 
ing language of the dissatisfaction of those tribes (the 
Six Nations) with the new settlements." After a second 
conference with the Indians on July 4, when General 
Chapin reached more satisfactory conclusions with them, 
he expressed it as his opinion that but for these two 
conferences, " blood would have been shed," and that 
quickly, by the turbulent tribes. In spite of these nego- 
tiations Major Ellicott wrote on July 29, that "Re- 
specting the disposition of the Indians we are much in 



116 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

the dark on that subject, they have never appeared about 
this post since their council with us in June, except in 
the character of spies." 
To his wife he wrote: 

" My Dear Sally "^^ ^°^^ ^"g^* ^"' 1^^*- 

We yet continue very quietly at this place, having 
no communication with the Indians, and have had no 
intellegance from Philadelphia since the 13^^ of June last, 
and if no directions should come on to the contrary, we 
shall leave this place for Philadelphia next Sunday two 
weeks— . . . We live here like a parcel of Monks, or 
Hermits, and have not a woman of any complexion among 
us — our linnen is dirty, our faces, and hands brown, and 
to complete the picture, our beards are generally long— 
O sweet Woman ! without thee man is a Brute, — and 
society a blank: thou shapest man into a valuable being, 
and directeth his ambition to useful pursuits. Can that 
man be possessed of rational sensibility who adoreth not 
a woman ? — no — . . . 

I am my Dear Sally your 

Affectionate Husband." 

As to the actual work, Major Ellicott was able to 
inform Governor Mifflin, on September 1, 1794, that " The 
plan of a Town for the place [Fort Le Boeuf, now Water- 
ford, Pa.], is finished, but from its size could not well 
be forwarded by this conveyance," and adds " We have 
built a Mohawk boat, (which will be found very service- 
able if we go on to Presqu'Isle), to which may be added 
a number of fine canoes," and expresses his opinion of 
the possibihties of the place as a settlement in a later 
letter to the Governor. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 117 

a a / " LE BoEOT Oct- 1st, 1794. 

We have been for some days past anxiously waiting to 
hear the result of the pending treaty with the Six Nations 
at Buffaloe Creek. . . . Cap* Denny takes the same 
precaution as if the Fort was actually blockaded which 
confinement is very disagreeable to the detachment and has 
soured the minds of some of the Officers and the men gen- 
erally who have heretofore been used to frontier scouting. 
They have manifested a desire to see the Lake but this 
being denied them (perhaps with propriety) has contrib- 
uted considerably to increase their dissatisfaction. . . . 

If any encouragement had been given or countenance 
shown by the Commandant I am confident that at least 
thirty houses would have been erected at this place this 
season which would have added considerably to the im- 
portance of this part of the State and been a centre 
round which settlements would shortly have been made. 
But without encouragement and notwithstanding the 
risk, one house is commenced, two others up to the square, 
and about 400 logs ready for building on lots which have 
been appHed for. 

It appears to me it would be highly advantageous to 
the State to have a To^vn laid out on the Pubhc reservation 
at Venango and the lots disposed of in the same manner 
as the Legislature intended those at Presqu'Isle. Every 
person acquainted with the geography of this State must 
not only be sensible of the importance of the following 
situations. Viz. Venango, Mouth of the Conowango River, 
le Boeuf, and Presqu'Isle, but also of the propriety of 
some encouragement to such adventurers as may settle 



118 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

at those places, for by a generous conduct emigrations 
from the State down the Ohio may be greatly checked 
and a very valuable part of the commonwealth put in a 
fair way of being peopled. 

You need be under no apprehension of this post being 
surprized. The Vigilance of Cap^. Denny will be found 
superior to any attempt of that kind. 

In my last communication I mentioned the advantage 
which would result to the Public by having the Presqu' 
Isle road opened and put in order this fall by the detach- 
ment stationed at this place. The necessity of this measure 
appears to be daily increasing, and if gone into it will give 
the men an opportunity of seeing the Lake which was 
a leading motive with many of them for entering into 
the service. If they only see Presqu'Isle and the south 
side of Lake Erie I can answer for their becoming adven- 
turers as soon as it can be done with safety. 

A. Ellicott." 

On the same day he writes to his wife from — 

" LE BoEUF, Oct 1st 1794 at 5 OClock in the Morning. 
" My Dear Sally 

We are yet stationed at this place, but will shortly 
have to leave it and return home, — not by the command 
of Cap*. Cornplanter, Wood-Bug, Dogs-about-the-fire, 
hot-Bread, hot-Ashes, Big-Boil-of a Kettle, Broken-Twig, 
Standing-Stone, flying-Cloud, Bears-Oil, Mud-eater, Big- 
fish-carrier, Old-Turkey, The-Tarrepin, Snake, He-cant- 
find-it, the-stringer-of-***#5, Twenty-Canoes, or any other 
two-leged King of this country; but by the command of 
a much more powerful Monarch, who is now making a 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 119 

most violent attack upon my fingers, and toes ; that is 
Cap^. or King Frost. 

We are all in a fine state of health, but almost naked 
for the want of cloaths, As yet we have been able to 
keep ourselves moderately warm with Blankets, and Bear- 
Skins. As to women, we know nothing about them except 
by recollection,— we have not seen one of any colour for 
near four months. without joaking I expect we shall 
certainly receive orders to return in less than two weeks, 
if not, I shall certainly set out on the fifteenth of this 
month. . . . for about three months past we have scarcely 
been out of the sight of the Fort. From this circimi- 
stance my dear, you suppose that we are in danger, 
but that is not the case, we are not in danger near the 
Fort, and for fear of danger never leave it— There has 
not been an Indian seen within twenty miles of this place 
for almost three months, which is the only reason we have 
to suppose them not friendly — we amuse ourselves with 
playing Checkerds, or what is an infinitely more intricate, 
and noble game Chess, which is played on the same board, 
with Kings, Queens, Bishops, Knights, Castles, and Pawns, 
— I have with my own hands, with my Pen-Knife made 
three complete sets, each consisting of thirty two pieces, 
and one half set curiously wrought In bone. 

There is some discontent among the Troops, and too 
much sparing among the Ofl^cers — ... 
I am my D^ Sally 

your Loving 

Husband." 



120 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The close of that season is recorded in a letter to 
Governor Mifflin, from Pittsburgh, on the first of 
November.-^ 

"Sir 

I arrived at this place last evening from le Boeuf with 

my small party in good health but much featiegued— .... 

I have brought down the saddle of a fine fat Buck 

which I shall endeavor to keep 'till your arrival at this 

Place. 

I am Sir with great respect 

Your real Friend 

And. Ellicott." 

The following season Major Ellicott's letters to his 
wife were much more frequent, probably because oppor- 
tunity of forwarding them occurred more often ; the 
first which has been kept is from Fort Le Boeuf, July 3, 
1795. 

" My Deau Sally 

We arrived at this place on Monday last in good 
health, and without any accident happening to us since 
we left the City- The Town which we laid out here last 
summer has encreased as much as could be expected ; there 
are three decent families settled in it, who supply us with 
Milck, and butter.- We shall set out for Presqu' Isle 
immediately after the arrival of our Canoes, which are 
at present detained in consequence of the low state of 
the waters— There does not appear to be danger from 
the Indians, they are very friendly; We have one with 

* From a draft. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 121 

us who belongs to the Nobihty, he is a nephew to King 
Guia Shuthongn and step-son to Chitteaughdunk ! . . . 
I am Your loving and 

Affectionate Husband." 

Fort Le Boeuf, where he was then at work, was an 
old French fort built prior to 1750, for in 1753 George 
Washington, then a major, had been sent to Le Boeuf 
by Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia to inquire of the 
French commandant at that place why the French had 
thus established a post within the dominions of his Brit- 
annic Majesty. 

Major Washington, in his diary of Dec. 13, 1753, 
observed Fort Le Boeuf to be " situated on the South 
or West Fork of French Creek near the Water, and is 
almost surrounded by the Creek and a small Branch of 
it, which forms a kind of Island. Four Houses compose 
the Sides of it. The Bastions are made of Piles driven 
into the Ground, standing more than twelve Feet above 
it, and sharp at the Top, With Port-Holes cut for 
Cannons, and Loop-Holes for the small arms to fire 
through. In the Bastions are a Guard-House, Chapel, 
Doctors-Lodging, and the Commanders private Store. 
Round which are laid Platforms for the Cannon and men 
to stand on. There are several Barracks without the Fort 
for the Soldiers Dwellings, covered some with Bark, and 
some with Boards, made chiefly with Loggs. There are 
also several other Houses such as Stables, Smiths Shops, 
etc. 

" According to the best judgment I could form, there 
are an Hundred men, exclusive of officers. . . . They 



122 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

had 50 canoes of Birch Bark, and 170 of Pine, beside 
many others which were blocked out in readiness of being 
made." ^ 

The Fort, as General Washington described it, must 
have been much as it was in 1793—94 while Major Ellicott 
was there. It was probably a typical frontier fort, of 
the better sort, of that period, and well and strongly 
built, for as late as 1848 a part of the old block house 
was still standing. From here Major Ellicott went on 
to finish the work at Presqu' Isle. 

Presqu' Isle was also on the site of an old French 
fort, and was the headquarters, and depot of stores for 
the posts between Erie and Pittsburgh. It took its 
name "Presqu' Isle" from the adjoining peninsula, and 
the eminence, on which the old fort with its attendant 
settlement stood, commended itself to Major Ellicott as 
a most favorable and commanding situation for the new 
town of Erie. He laid it out with regular and spacious 
streets, and with a care which has made it one of the 
pleasantest towns in Pennsylvania. The bluff on which 
it is situated affords a prospect of Presqu' Isle Bay 
and of the Lake beyond. Reservations were made " of 
certain lots for the use of the United States to build forts, 
magazines, arsenals and dock-yards thereon." Monuments 
inscribed appropriately, according to Major Ellicott's 
invariable careful custom, were erected at suitable points. 
One at the northeast corner of the town, on the edge of 
the bluff, was inscribed " ERIE 1795," on one face, and 
" N. lat. 42° 8' 14" " — on the other. 

From here Major Ellicott wrote several letters to his 
wife: 

^ The Writings of Washington, Ford, vol. i, pp. 30, 31. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 123 

« My Love " Pkesqu'Isle, July 19*1^, 1795. 

I have just embraced an opportunity by a person who 
is leaving this place in about ten minutes, to inform you 
that our business is going on with as much order, and 
despatch as could be expeoted. . . . We take fish in abun- 
dance, — Last evening Gen. Irvine's son and Andrew made 
up a party, and in less than two hours brought into Camp 
about two hundred, weighing from one to six pounds— 
I have purchased from the Indians some fine Martin skins 
to replace your old Muff & Tippet— . . . 

Your affectionate Husband." 

" My Dear Sally "Pkesqu'Isle, July 22<i. 1795. 

This day we were joined by a detachment from the 
Army of the United States— which added to the State 
Troops renders our situation both secure and agreeable— 
We have hoisted the Union Flag, and fire a morning, and 
evening gun. There is a constant communication between 
this place, and the British side of the Lake,— my acquaint- 
ance in that quarter have written me some friendly let- 
ters, and appear desirous to be upon good terms with 
us. — such is the effect of the Presqu' Isle establishment. 

This letter will be taken to Pittsburgh by a person, 
who is conducting a lady to her people near Morgan's 
Town. She has been a prisoner with the Indians for 
thirteen years. . . . 

I am my Dear Sally your 

Affectionate Husband." 



124 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

•' Presqu'Isle Septr. nth, 1795. 

" We are now completing our work at this place, and 
shall leave it in two weeks at farthest. — we shall then 
proceed to conawango where we shall not remain more 
than three weeks.— We have little or no news in this 
quarter, and what little we have, is concerning M'". Jay's 
Treaty.^ — The Indians continue peaceable, and well dis- 
posed; the military establishment here will have a power- 
ful effect in keeping them quiet. — .... Our Surgeon 
Doc*^ Kenedy,^ and a young Gentleman who resides in our 
Camp have built a sail Boat, which has added much to 
the rendering our situation agreeable.— We have cran- 
berries in abundance, which we use with our bread in place 
of Butter— I have generally enjoyed a good state of 
health; but owing to my anxiety about your wellfare, 
.... added to so much hard labour falling to my share, 
I have lost much more than my superfluous flesh- . . . 

I am 
My Dear Sally your affectionate 

Husband." 

The latter part of September, the surveying party, 
with their work of road and town-building now nearly 
completed, moved on to Conawango, where they had laid 
out the present town of Warren, on a plain of about 
SOO acres on the right bank of the Alleghany River, just 
below the mouth of Conawango Creek. The town was 

* Jay's Treaty with Great Britain, signed Nov. 19, 1794, was published 
in this country July 2, 1795. 

^ Dr. Thomas Ruston Kennedy, who afterwards married Major EUicott's 
daughter Jane. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 125 

laid out along the river bank, in an attractive manner, 
a square or park in the centre of the town, around which 
were to be grouped the public buildings. A letter to 
Mrs. ElHcott from this place announces that the work 
which had consumed two years was nearly at an end. 

" My Dear Sally " Conawango, Oct. 8th, 1795. 

We arrived at this place on the first day of this month, 
and expect to complete our business in ten days at far- 
thest. — .... Since we left Presqu'Isle many of our 
people have been taken ill with the fever and ague, and 
this day we shall send off a party of the sick troops to 
Fort Frankhn — .... On our way to this place I had 
one fit of the ague; but have prevented a return by 
taking freely of the bark 

As soon as we finish at this place we shall proceed 

to Pittsburgh where we shall be detained a few days, to 

refresh ourselves, and get some new clothes — We are as 

ragged as beggars, and almost as dirty as Indians. . . . 

I am My Dear Sally your 

loving Husband." 

Two weeks later a letter from Pittsburgh announces 
that it is actually completed. 

" My Dear Sally 'Pittsbxjkgh October 23rd, 1795. 

I have this moment arrived at this place in as good 
a state of health as could be expected considering our 
long marches thro' the wilderness from Presqu'Isle to 
Conawango during almost the whole time we were wet 
with could rains and on our passage down the river to 



126 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Venango we were covered with snow. . . . Andrew con- 
tinues to enjoy a remarkably good state of health which 
has generally been the case with all our young Gentlemen— 
But some of our people have suffered considerably and 
one we had the misfortune to bury on the bank of the 
river on our way down. As my return home will be in 
so short a time I shall omit many anecdotes which can 
be better related than written— .... 
I am my Dear Sally 

Yours Affectionately." 

At Pittsburgh, the different members of the surveying 
party and the military guard all met, and enjoyed a 
short period of rest and relaxation after the hard sum- 
mer's work. The leading men of the place were attracted 
to their company. A " good table," emphasized as a sharp 
contrast to the wilderness fare, was a feature of their 
brief stay ; and the evenings were made agreeable with 
much brilliant and entertaining conversation, in which 
old battles and thrilling experiences of the frontier were 
re-lived, and re-told, and to which, we are told. Major 
Elhcott did not fail to contribute " his genial flow of 
instructive thought." A week later he was once more at 
the dearly loved home in Philadelphia. 



CHAPTER VI 

THE FLORIDA BOUNDARY 

1796-1800 

A PARTicuLAB, importance attaches to the next work on 
which the government required Major Elhcott's services. 
It was the fixing of a definite boundary hne between 
the United States and the Spanish possessions in Florida, 
one of the main points in the Pinckney-Godoy Treaty 
of October 27, 1795. 

This Pinckney-Godoy Treaty, settKng as it did a num- 
ber of important things concerning the " Mississippi ter- 
ritory," was a diplomatic triumph on the part of Mr. 
Thomas Pinckney, Ambassador from the United States. 
Friction, long continued, between the Spaniards and the 
Americans on the lower Mississippi lands had made defi- 
nite settlement of some sort imperative. " Spain " (writes 
Washington in September, 1794) " has imposed the neces- 
sity of sending an envoy extraordinary to her. Mr. 
Pinckney is gone thither, he is to seize any favourable 
moment to execute what has been entrusted to him con- 
cerning the Mississippi." And it was, apparently, a 
very favorable moment that he seized, for, conferring with 
the " Most Excellent Lord Don Manuel de Godoi," as 
Spain's representative in the matter, Mr. Pinckney secured 



128 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

such important acquisitions for the United States that 
Washington made congratulatory mention of them in 
his Farewell Address. 

De Godoy's several dozen resplendent titles occupy the 
entire first page of the treaty, yet Mr. Pinckney's simple 
claim to be a " Citizen of the United States " weighs 
heavily against them, especially as the " Citizen of the 
United States " gained all that he was sent to gain, 
which was in brief: 

" 1st. The establishment of the southern limits of 
the United States from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, 
by a well defined line between them and Florida. 

" 2d. The establishment of the western boundary by 
the Mississippi River, and the extinction of Spanish claims 
to all territory on its eastern bank north of thirty-one 
degrees, the hmits of Louisiana. 

" 3rd. It secured the free navigation of that long cov- 
eted river, and opened an outlet to the Gulf, and to the 
markets of the world. The western pioneer thus obtained 
an unmolested right of way for a thousand miles down 
that majestic stream, and 

" 4th. By the privilege of a port of entry at New 
Orleans, he secured a safe deposit for American produce 
and for importations from all European nations. 

" 5th. Another article of the treaty estabhshed a court 
in which American claims against the Spaniards might 
be adjudicated and enforced, and justice, though long 
delayed, be done our injured citizens. 

" 6th. This treaty of ' friendship, limits and naviga- 
tion ' required each contracting party to restrain the 








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ANDREW ELLICOTT 129 

Indians within their territories from any aggression upon 
their neighbors, and thus provided for the peace of our 
homes against this insidious foe." ^ 

Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge remarks that it was an ex- 
tremely good treaty and conceded all we asked. " By it 
the Florida boundary was settled and the free navigation 
of the Mississippi was obtained. We also gained the 
right to a place of deposit at New Orleans, a pledge to 
leave the Indians alone, a commercial agreement modelled 
on that with France, and a board of arbitration to settle 
American claims." ^ 

All these concessions were especially valuable at this 
time to the United States, but the treaty, though ratified 
by the Madrid government, in 1796, was not fulfilled 
by them. Kentucky, however, demanded its execution, in 
which demand she was upheld by the Federal government, 
and, the treaty having provided that each nation should 
appoint a Commissioner and Surveyor to meet at Natchez 
and perform the work, President Washington, in a com- 
mission bearing date May 4, 1796, appointed Andrew 
Ellicott Commissioner to survey and mark the boundary 
hne between the American and Spanish possessions, to run, 
as provided for in the treaty, along the thirty-first par- 
allel from the Mississippi eastward to the Appalachicola 
(Chattahoochee) River, and as an argument which he 
might use in case of need, a detachment of United States 
troops was to accompany liim. 

His instructions from Timothy Pickering, Secretary 
of State, dated Sept. 14, 1796, impressed upon him the 

* Life of Thomas Pinckney. 

* Life of Washington, H. C. Lodge. 

9 



130 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

importance of the exactitude of the work which was before 
him, and the great desirability of preserving peace and 
harmony in his deahngs with both the Indians and 
Spaniards with whom he would be brought in contact, 
and adds that according to the terms of the treaty, he 
should be at Natchez, " before the 25th of October next 
ensuing," — an impossibiHty under the conditions of trav- 
elHng at that time. 

Major Ellicott set out upon this important errand on 
the 16th of September, 1796, and his journal, faithfully 
kept from the day of his departure from Philadelphia until 
his return thereto May 18, 1800, is a picture of the coun- 
try and the period of which he wrote, absorbing in its 
interest. 

The mode of travel by land and water, the country 
through which he passed, its natural features whether of 
beauty or desolation, the temperature, soil, vegetation, 
and mineral resources, all claimed his notice. The settlers 
and Indians, the outlaws and adventurers always to be 
found thronging the edge of a new country, the Spaniards 
themselves, dilatory and annoying, withholding to the 
last what they knew they must yield in the end, all, in fact, 
that came under his keen observation is described in a 
manner full of fascination, and the journal has a hterary 
value entirely aside from the pohtical and scientific im- 
portance of the work which it records. The survey itself 
was really a Hnk in the chain of American expansion, and 
Major Ellicott's record of the circumstances attending 
the work are all the more interesting because the principal 
actors seem hardly aware that there is to be such a thing 
as American expansion, still less that they, down there 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 131 

on the edge of the wilderness, at the end of a stormy 
century, are forging one of its Hnks. The journal was 
afterwards published (Philadelphia, 1803), a square, 
sturdy, calf-bound volume with many maps and tables 
of astronomical observations, the latter " Addrest " to 
Mr. Robert Patterson, Vice-President of the American 
Philosophical Society. 

An eminent historian says of this book, " He wrote a 
Journal, which alone would entitle its author to a high 
rank among the literary and scientific men of the period. 
It was an early and successful essay to make the people 
of the United States acquainted with the climate, soil, 
topography, and vast resources of the country acquired 
by the Louisiana purchase." 

The charm of the book as a whole is great, and it is 
difficult to choose such parts of it as Avill tell the story 
of Major Ellicott's work in brief, without necessarily 
leaving out much that is of interest and value. The first 
forty pages are given over to the journey from Phila- 
delphia to Natchez, at which place he was to meet the 
Spanish Commissioner. Such a journey in the year of 
grace 1796 was no light undertaking. It led him first 
by horseback to Pittsburgh, while his baggage and in- 
struments followed more slowly by wagon. The way led 
across the beautiful mountains and valleys of western 
Pennsylvania, long since familiar to him from his early 
surveys across them. It led through cleared land and 
forest, over roads 'l^f ten discouragingly steep, and always 
discouragingly poor, and to reach accommodations for 
man and horse at seasonable times, whether it was a 
tavern or the house of a friend, required riding early and 



132 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

late. Pittsburgh once reached, the rest of the journey 
was to be made by boat or bateau down the Ohio and 
the Mississippi to the place of meeting. 

The importance of water ways as routes of travel in 
those early days can scarcely be over-estimated. The 
desirability of travel by water, compared to an over- 
land route on primitive roads, was great, for the roads 
(where roads there were at all) had hardly yet emerged 
from being trails. The person who had a distance to 
travel simply made for the river which flowed nearest 
to his starting-point and destination, and procuring the 
sort of a boat best adapted to his needs, intrusted him- 
self and his goods to the stream. This was the course 
Major Ellicott pursued and his journal begins: 

September 16th 1796, I took leave of ray family about 
ten o'clock in the morning, and proceeded to Chester and 
dined ; then rode to Wilmington and staid all night. . . . 

17th, Left Wilmington at half past five in the morn- 
ing, breakfasted at Christiana, dined at Elkton, proceeded 
to the Susquehannah, crossed the ferry and lodged at 
Havre de Grace. . . . 

18th, Left Havre de Grace at five in the morning, break- 
fasted at Hartford, dined at Baltimore, and lodged at my 
mother's on Potapsco. . . . 

The country from the Susquehannah to Potapsco does 
not appear to be in a better state of cultivation, than 
it was twenty-six years ago. This disagreeable circum- 
stance, is no doubt principally owing to the system of 
domestic slavery, which yet continues to prevail in the 
southern states. . . . That domestic slavery is wrong in 



^^f"!^' M 




ANDREW ELLICOTT 133 

a moral point of view is evident from the ordinary prin- 
ciples of justice: And that it is politically wrong may 
be deduced from the following facts. First, that a tract 
of country cultivated by slaves, is neither so well im- 
proved, rich, or populous, as it would be if cultivated 
by the owners of the soil, and by freemen. Secondly, slaves 
cannot be calculated upon as adding to the strength of 
the community, but frequently the contrary, for reasons 
too obvious to detail. . . . 

21st, Set out before sunrise, rode 10 miles and took 
breakfast, , . . went on to M'Callester's town and dined. 
The town is handsome, and appears to be improving, 
which is not the case with Reister's town. The popula- 
tion of towns, and villages, is generally very rapid till 
it becomes sufficient for the commerce of the surround- 
ing country, and afterwards increases, or decreases, with 
the general state of the improvement of the district, 
unless aided by something peculiarly favourable in its 
situation. . . . 

[His own experience in laying out towns had led him 
to consider such matters from the viewpoint of a keen 
and interested observer.] 

22nd, . . . Proceeded to Shippensburgh. On the way 
crossed a spur of the Blue mountain, on which peaches were 
uncommonly plenty, and in great perfection. . . . 

23d, .... Set out about 3 in the afternoon and rode 
to Strasburgh. . . . 

24th, Left Strasburgh early in the morning. . . . 
Breakfasted at Dunn's, dined at Bird's and stayed all 
night at Wild's Tavern at the foot of the Sideling 
Hill. . . . 



134 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

25th, Took an early breakfast and rode to Hartley's 
and dined from thence proceeded to Wards' and stayed 
all night. . . . 

26th, Proceeded to the foot of the Alleghany mountain, 
. . . ascended the mountain about ten o'clock in the morn- 
ing and proceeded to Stoy's town and dined, then rode to 
Mr. Wells's -^ and stayed all night. ... A number of 
farmers on the mountain were engaged in cutting their 
Buckwheat, and Oats ; . . . The summer on the mountain, 
is not sufficiently long to bring Indian corn to perfection. 

27th, Left Mr. Wells's before sunrise, . . . crossed the 
Laurel Hill, and took breakfast at Freeman's Tavern: 
crossed the Chestnut ridge and dined at Baldrages: pro- 
ceeded from thence to Greensburgh, and stayed all 
night. . . . 

28th, . . Left Greensburgh at seven o'clock in the 
morning, and rode to Col. John Irwin's, and took break- 
fast, from thence to M'Nairs and dined. Left M'Nairs in a 
heavy rain, which continued till I arrived at Pittsburgh. 

Pittsburgh, which twenty-five years before could boast 
but twenty log huts outside the fort, was in 1795 " a 
thriving town containing at present about two hundred 
Houses, fifty of wch are brick and framed, & the re- 
mainder Log." ^ It was a great centre of western emigra- 
tion, and the boat building industry was a busy one. 

" For seven months of every year the streets of the 
town were crowded with emigrants arriving and depart- 

* This was Mr. Charles Wells, with whom Major Ellicott had stayed for 
some time in 1785, while at work on the boundary line between Virginia and 
Pennsylvania. 

^ Journal of Thomas Chapman. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 135 

ing and its water front was fringed with boats of every 
description. Boat building was the chief industry of 
the place, and as no boat ever came back the industry 
never flagged. At either river bank could be procured 
at a moment's notice canoes cut from a single log, 
pirogues able to carry fifteen barrels of salt, skiffs of 
from five hundred to twenty thousand pounds burden, 
batteaux, arks, Kentucky broadhorns, New Orleans boats 
for use on the Mississippi river, and barges and keel boats 
with masts and sails. Provided, according to his needs 
with one or more of such craft, and a copy of the Navi- 
gator, to warn him of the dangerous rocks and eddies 
that obstructed the way, the trader or emigrant would 
push off into the stream and float slowly down with the 
current." ^ 

Major EUicott, on his arrival, immediately busied 
himself in securing boats for the river journey. He 
quickly procured three, a flat-bottomed " Kentucky boat " 
and two others, but on the 16th was still in need of a 
fourth. " On the 20th Gen. Wilkinson, and his family 
arrived, and he very politely gave his Boat up to me ; 
it was a second hand one, but the Cabbin was new and 
spacious." 

The wagons with the stores, instruments, and baggage, 
being necessarily much slower in making the trip from 
Philadelphia did not reach Pittsburg until Oct. 3d. Some 
of the instruments, injured by the jolting of the wagons, 
required repairing, and from one cause and another it 
was the 24th of October before they were fairly under 

* McMaster's History of the People of the United States, vol. iii, p. 483. 



136 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

way. They were, even then, troubled for several days 
by fogs, shoals, and leakage of the boats, caused by drag- 
ging them over the stones in the shallows. Also, some 
of the men got intoxicated in a " small trifling village " 
they passed, " whose inhabitants are principally sup- 
ported by selling liquor to the indiscreet and dissipated 
in the neighbourhood, and to the imprudent traveller." 

" 29th, . . . Encamped in the evening opposite to the 
Mingo bottom which is rendered memorable for the in- 
human murder of the Indians of that name, who resided 
on it, either by, or at the instigation of Capt. Cresap, 
Harman Greathouse, and a few others. This outrage 
was followed by a war of retaliation, which continued for 
many years with a cruelty scarcely to be equalled in the 
annals of history.-^ 

The evening became calm, and the atmosphere loaded 
with smoke, occasioned by the dead leaves and grass, 
over a vast extent of the country being on fire, which 
during the night, illuminated the clouds of smoke and 
produced a variegated appearance beautiful beyond de- 
scription. Our smoky weather in spring and autumn, 
is probably the effect of fires extending over the vast 
forests of our country. . . . 

November 1st, . . . Stopped at Wheeling and took the 
latitude, and then proceeded to the mouth of Grave Creek 
and encamped. Went to view the amazing monuments of 
earth, thrown up many ages ago by the aborigines of the 

^ Major Ellicott alludes to that massacre of the Indians by the whites in 
1774, in which, among others, the entire family of Logan, the celebrated 
Cayuga Chief, were wiped out. It has been stated in Captain Michael 
Cresap's defence that he was elsewhere at the time, though he was probably 
aware of the intended massacre. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 137 

country, for some purpose unknown to us. One of those 
monuments is more than 70 feet high: it has a cavity 
or depression on the top, in which a large oak tree was 
growing." 

Shoals still troubled them and head winds rendered 
their progress slow. They reached Marietta ^ Nov. 7, 
and remained there three days to repair the boats. From 
there Major Ellicott wrote to his wife: 

" My Love 

We have this moment arrived at this place, after a 
tedious passage of two weeks from Pittsburgh— The water 
being so low that we are frequently under the necessity 
of dragging our Boats over the gravel, and shoals. My 
Boat is a very elegant one, and furnished with a large 
Cabbin, glass windows, and a stove— My guard are in 
the Boat with myself— There are six of us in the Cabin, 
where the time passes away as comfortably as could be 
expected by persons in our situation— Game is remark- 
ably plenty on this River, we almost live upon Turkies, 
and excellent fish.— last night we had ten large fat Turkies, 
laying on the top of our Cabbin ready for the cook— You 
have never been ten minutes out of my mind since I left 
Philadelphia. When I say I love you, it is not sufficient, 
I do more, I love our children,— but I adore you— All 
my hopes of future happiness, depend upon you. The Post 
is waiting farewell. 

Your affectionate Husband." 

He left Marietta, which he calls a handsome town, 
as soon as the boats were in good order, passing 

1 Named for Marie Antoinette. 



138 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Blennerhassett's Island on his way, and the Journal 
continues : 

" 11th, . . . Passed the little Kanhawa, and afterwards 
a miserable village by the name of Belle Prae, next a float- 
ing mill, and lastly, the mouth of little Hockhocking. 

The ordinary streams of water in that part of the 
western country, so universally fail in the summer, and 
beginning of autumn, that the inhabitants . . . have re- 
course to floating mills, or to others driven by the wind, 
or worked by horses to grind their corn. Those floating 
mills are erected upon two, or more, large canoes or boats, 
and anchored out in a strong current. The float-boards 
of the water wheels, dip their whole breadth into the stream, 
by which they are propelled forward, and give motion 
to the whole machinery. When the waters rise, and set 
the other mills to work, the floating ones are towed into 
a safe harbour, where they remain till the next season. . . . 

14th, . . . Arrived in the evening at Point Pleasant,^ 
a small and indifferent village on the east side of the river, 
just above the mouth of the great Kanhawa. . . . Near 
to where the village now stands, was fought the memorable 
battle between a detachment of Virginia militia (com- 
manded by Col. Lewis,) and the Shawnee and Delaware 
Indians. The engagement continued several hours, and 
the victory was a long time doubtful and alternately ap- 
peared to favour each party; Courage, address and 
dexterity equally characterized both ; but the Virginians 
remained masters of the field.^ . . . 

• Birthplace of U. S. Grant. 

' Major Andrew Lewis of Washington's Virginia Regiment, at the battle 
of Point Pleasant in 1774, gained a victory over the Shawnee Confederacy 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 139 

15th, Arrived at Galllpolis.^ . . . This village is situ- 
ated on a fine high bank, on the west side of the river, and 
inhabited by a number of miserable French families. Many 
of the inhabitants that season fell victims to the yellow 
fever, which certainly originated in that place, and was 
produced by the filthiness of the inhabitants, and an un- 
usual quantity of animal, and vegetable putrification. . . . 
Of all the places I have yet beheld, this was the most 
miserable. There are several Indian mounds of earth, or 
barrows, within the vicinity of the village. . . . 

18th, . . . Passed the mouth of Sandy Creek, which is 
one of the boundaries between the States of Virginia and 
Kentucky. . . . 

20th, ... I left the boats, and went on shore . . . 
to view the salt works, which are about one mile from the 

river, in the state of Kentucky The salt lick, or 

spring, is situated in the bed of a small creek, which when 
high overflows it." 

He gained from the manager a very full description 
of the method of salt making which he sets down at some 
length. For the next few days they encountered bad 
weather, and had to drag the boats over extensive shoals, 

under their celebrated chief "Cornstalk" in what was probably the most 
severe battle with the Indians that had taken place in this country up to this 
time. It was at this battle that Lieut. George Rogers Clark first distin- 
guished himself. 

* GallipoUs was settled by a class of French emigrants, entirely unfitted 
for frontier hfe, who were induced to come out by the " Scioto Company" 
of which Joel Barlow was agent. The whole affair was fraudulent, and 
after great hardships and losses only a strugghng remnant remained, living 
in misery and wretchedness, which, according to the travellers of that day, 
was depicted on their sad countenances. 



140 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

while the weather was so cold that the men's clothes froze 
stiff as they came out of the water. 

" 25th, Proceeded to Cincinnati where we arrived about 
ten o'clock in the forenoon and found ourselves under 
the necessity of procuring another boat, in place of one 
which was rendered useless by dragging it over rocks, 
stones, and shoals and repairing the one I had from Gen- 
eral Wilkinson. The waters were so low that no boats 
but ours had reached that place from Pittsburgh since 
the preceding August, and .... no others could be 
reasonably expected. Our success was owing to the num- 
ber of people we had with us, and whose quiet submission 
to unusual hardships does them great credit. . . . 

29th, . . . Left Cincinnati in the evening. Cincinnati 
was at that time the capital of the North Western Terri- 
tory: it is situated on a fine high bank, and for the time 
it has been building is a very respectable place. . . . 
During our stay we were politely treated by Mr. Winthrop 
Sargent, secretary of the government, and Captain Harri- 
son ^ who commanded at Fort Washington." 

They reached Louisville December 8. 

" The town of Louis Ville stands a short distance above 
the rapids on the east side of the river. The situation is 
handsome, but said to be unhealthy. The town has im- 
proved but little for some years past. . . . 

10th, . . Discovered a Kentucky boat fast upon a log, 
and upon examination found that it was deserted, and 
suspected that the crew were on shore in distress, which 

* William Henry Harrison, afterwards President of the United States. 



^ ANDREW ELLICOTT 14.1 

we soon found to be the case. The crew consisted of sev- 
eral men, women, and children, who left the boat two days 
before in a small canoe when they found their strength 
insufficient to get her off. They were without any shelter 
to defend them from the inclemency of the weather, and 
it was then snowing very fast. We spent two hours in 
getting the boat off, and taking it to the shore, where we 
received the thanks of the unfortunate crew, and left them 
to pursue their journey. 

14th, . . . Passed the Wabash. . . . 
15th, Much ice in the river. Stopped at an Indian 
camp, and procured some meat. Dined at the great cave. 
This cave may be considered as one of the greatest natural 
curiosities on the river, and I have constantly lamented 
that I could not spare time to make a drawing of it, and 
take its dimensions. . . . 

16th, . . . Passed Cumberland River. . . . 
17th, . . . Passed the mouth of the Tennessee, and in 
two hours afterwards arrived at Fort Massac, and was 
politely received by the commandant Captain Pike,^ who 
with the surg-eon Doctor Hammel dined with me. . . . 
18th, . . . Arrived at the mouth of the Ohio . . . 
19th, Set up the clock, and prepared to make some 
astronomical observations. . . . The map of the Ohio 
river which accompanies this work is laid down from the 
best materials I could procure. . . . The Ohio river is 
formed by the junction of the Allegany and INIonongahela 
rivers at Pittsburgh. ... It may not be improper here 
to observe, that all the Indians residing on the Allegany, 
ever since my acquaintance with the western country, have 

* Father of Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike, of Pike's Peak fame. 



142 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

called that branch, as well as the main river, the Ohio, and 
appear to know it by no other name. 

The Ohio is certainly one of the finest rivers within the 
United States whether considered as to magnitude, the 
great extent of its course, or the outlet it affords to an 
immense and fertile country rapidly filling with inhab- 
itants 

The flat, or bottom lands on the Ohio, are not surpassed 
by any in the United States for fertility ; but in many 
places they are small, and inconsiderable ; being limited 
by hills or mountains, on one side, and the river on the 
other. A large proportion of the hills, and mountains, are 
unfit for agricultural purposes, being either too steep, 
or faced with rocks 

The country produces all the immediate necessaries of 
life in abundance, and far beyond the present consumption 
of the inhabitants ; the residue, with many other articles, 
such as hemp, cordage, hard-ware, some glass, whiskey, 
apples, cider, and salted provisions, are annually carried 
down the river to New Orleans, where they find a ready 
market. . . . The people who reside on the Ohio and its 
waters, are brave, enterprising, and warlike, which will 
generally be found the strongest characteristical marks 
of the inhabitants of all our new settlements. It arises 
from their situation ; being constantly in danger from the 
Indians, they are habituated to alarms, and acts of bravery 
become a duty they owe to themselves, and to their friends. 
But this bravery, too frequently when not checked by 
education, and a correct mode of thinking, degenerates 
into ferocity. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 143 

The day after we arrived at the confluence of the Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers, they were both so full of ice, that 
it would have been impossible to navigate either of them 
with any degree of safety .... On the 22d both rivers 
closed, and made a romantick appearance, from the piles 
of ice which were thrown up in a variety of positions. 

We now became alarmed for the fate of our store boat, 
which we left beliind on the 11th, and otherwise found our 
situation very disagreeable ; not expecting to be overtaken 
by such extreme cold weather, we were not prepared to 
meet it. . . . For a number of days the cold was so in- 
tense that we had to keep up large fires both day and 
night, to prevent our being frozen. ... 

On the 23d we sent three men up the river, to ob- 
tain if possible some intelligence respecting our store 
boat .... 

[On the 26th at sunrise] the ice gave way again, and 
... it continued to move the whole day in so great a mass, 
that the water was not to be seen: Both rivers made the 
same appearance, and as our boats were now safe, we were 
enabled to contemplate the prospect which was grand and 
awful, with some degree of pleasure and composure. The 
concussion of the ice at the junction of the two rivers pro- 
duced a constant, rumbling noise, for many hours, similar 
to that of an earthquake. . . . 

On the 2d of January 1797, the party which had been 
sent up the river returned, after going as high as fort 
Massac ; but could obtain no intelligence respecting our 
store boat. But on the 6th our anxiety was in some degree 
removed by the arrival of Messrs. Elhcott, junr. Rankin, 
and one of the labourers, who had left the boat, . . . and 



U4! ANDREW ELLICOTT 

proceeded down the river, sometimes on the ice, and some- 
times on the land, till they fell in with us. . . . They made 
the land near the mouth of the Wabash, where they landed 
the stores, and the whole party (being about twenty in 

number,) encamped This journey . . . does them 

great credit, . . . committing themselves .... to the 
wilderness, to perform what they supposed to be a duty. 

During the winter season, ... a number of Indians 
hunt and reside in the swamp ; and it happened fortunately 
for us, that several companies of them were encamped in 
our neighbourhood, and by whom we were supplied with 
meat in exchange for flour: . . . Our men . . . took a 
great number of raccoons, and opossums. . . . They 
abound in the swamp. 

A few days after we had encamped at the confluence of 
the rivers, Mr. Philip Nolan,^ so well known for his 
athletic exertions, and dexterity in taking wild horses 
stopped at our camp on his way from New Madrid to 
fort Massac, having two boats at the latter place shut 
up by the ice. From him I obtained much useful infor- 
mation relative to the . . . inhabitants of Natchez ; which 
at that time was a matter of mere curiosity, but which 
eventually I found extremely useful. Being pleased with 
his conversation, and finding that he had a very extensive 
knowledge of that country, particularly Louisiana, I re- 
quested the pleasure of his company down the river, . . . 
to which he agreed. After staying with us one night 
he proceeded up to Massac, and remained there till our 

* Philip Nolan was afterwards murdered by the Spaniards at Waco, 
Texas, in 1801. He is the hero of the Rev. Edward Everett Hale's " Philip 
Nolan and his Friends," and "The Man without a Country" bears his 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 145 

store boat reached that place, and accompanied her, with 
his two boats down to us. 

While in our camp he observed a number of Indians, 
who were from the west side of the Mississippi, and spoke 
to them in the several languages with which he was 
acquainted, but they could not understand him; he then 
addressed them by signs, to which they immediately replied, 
and conversed for some time with apparent ease, and satis- 
faction. This was the first time I had either seen, or heard 
of this curious language. . . . Mr. Nolan . . . informed 
me it was used by many natives on the west side of the Mis- 
sissippi, who could only be understood by each other in 
that way, and that it was commonly made use of in trans- 
acting their national concerns. 

A vocabulary of part of this curious language, has been 
sent on to the American Philosophical Society by William 
Dunbar, Esq. of the Mississippi Territory, and contains 
a much more particular account of it than I could give. . . . 
The 30 [of January] was spent in loading our boats, and 
preparing to leave our encampment. On the top of the 
stump of a large tree to which the zenith sector was fixed, 
a plate of lead was laid, containing the latitude, and longi- 
tude of that place. The stump was then covered by a 
mound of earth of considerable magnitude, but which will 
probably be demoHshed in a few years by the annual 
inundations." 

They reached the Spanish Fort at New Madrid on the 
2d of February, and, although they were greeted with 
a salute of artillery and treated with much respect, the 
Spanish Commandant endeavored to detain them, produc- 

10 



146 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

ing a letter from the Governor General, the Baron de 
Carondelet, containing an order not to permit the Ameri- 
cans to descend the river till the posts were evacuated, 
which could not be until the waters should rise. This 
order appeared extraordinary to Major Ellicott, and he 
quaintly observes he " believes it was not less so to the 
Commandant." Through the medium of Mr. Maxwell, a 
Roman Cathohc priest at the post, who acted as inter- 
preter, they held a conversation which ended in the com- 
mandant remarking that " as the waters had risen, one 
half of the objection at least was done away, and they 
should meet with no impediment from him." 

The Journal continues: 

" At four o'clock in the afternoon we took leave of the 
Commandant and his officers, whose hospitality and polite- 
ness, I shall ever acknowledge with sensibility. As we left 
the shore, we were again saluted by the artillery of the 
fort. . . . My mind was occupied the whole evening in re- 
flecting upon the order of the Governor General. ... It 
occurred to me, that if similar orders were given to the 
other commandants below, and they should be less liberal 
and friendly towards the United States, we might be de- 
tained several months during a discussion . . . attended 
with delay, inconvenience and additional expense. . . . 

[February] 8th, . . . Arrived at the Chickasaw bluffs. 
. . . The Commandant received us politely, but in a 
manner, which convinced me that he did not expect us. 
. . . He enquired about an express which had lately gone 
up the river with despatches ... to the Commandant at 
New Madrid. We told him the express had not arrived at 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 147 

that place when we left. ... I thought it probable that 
the Governor General had sent on other orders more 
pointed, and less equivocal, to stop us at that post. 

9th, . . . Though treated in the most polite and hos- 
pitable manner my suspicions were increased. . . . The 
Commandant and officers appeared, (or affected,) to be 
almost wholly unacquainted with the late treaty between 
the United States and his Catholic Majesty. And ... no 
preparations . . . had been or were making to evacuate 
that post. ... I informed Mr. Nolan that I strongly sus- 
pected something . . . with which we were unacquainted. 
He replied, " keep your suspicions to yourself, . . . what- 
ever I can discover, you shall know, but the utmost caution 
will be necessary." . . . 

10th, Left the Bluffs about eight o'clock in the morn- 
ing. ... In the afternoon . . . encamped at a remark- 
able place, where the Chickasaws and Chocktaws formerly 
held their consultations. 

15th, . . . Were brought to about two o'clock in the 
afternoon by Col. Howard, an Irish gentleman in the 
service of his Catholic Majesty, who had two armed 
gallies with him ; after detaining us about one hour we 
proceeded down the river. 

19th, Arrived at the Walnut Hills, where the Span- 
iards have erected some considerable works. . . . The 
Commandant, though he treated us very civilly when on 
shore, had us brought to by the discharge of a piece of 
artillery, which was wholly unnecessary as we were near 
the landing, and making to it as fast as we could. . . . 



148 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The Commandant . . . enquired my business, with which 
he appeared to be almost wholly unacquainted, . . . which 
could only be considered as the effect of affectation." 

Shortly after leaving Walnut Hills on the 22d, a letter 
from Governor Gayoso of Natchez, which had arrived by 
an express after they embarked, was sent out to them by 
a man in a canoe. It contained the request that to " pre- 
vent misunderstanding" Major Ellicott should leave the 
detachment of troops, which the Governor had learned 
he was bringing with him, at the mouth of the Bayou 
Pierre. This request Major Ellicott characterizes as im- 
proper and unnecessary in the extreme, but remembering 
his instructions to " preserve harmony," he deemed it wise 
to avoid wrangling, discussion, and consequent irritation on 
both sides, at the very moment of his arrival, and accord- 
ingly the escort were left temporarily at the Bayou Pierre, 
while Major Ellicott accompanied by his corps of sur- 
veyors went on down the river to Natchez, where he 
arrived February 24th after five months of such travel- 
ling as would have seemed most wearisome and hard, to 
any one possessed of a less abundant vitality than his, 
and of an interest less keen than that which it is evi- 
dent he genuinely felt in every possible phase of life and 
nature. 



CHAPTER VII 

THE FLORIDA BOUNDARY (Continued) 

Although warned by the attitude of the different officials 
whom he had so far encountered that Spain would not 
endeavor to make his path especially easy, nor yet co- 
operate very heartily with him on the boundary work, 
Major EUicott had no reason to foresee that it would be 
over a year from the date of his arrival at Natchez before 
he would be able even to begin his work. He notified 
Governor Gayoso at once of his arrival and readiness to 
commence the survey, by the following note: 

"Landing at the Town of Natchez 
« c Feb. 24th 1797. 

It is with pleasure that I announce to you, my arrival 
as commissioner on behalf of the United States, for carry- 
ing into effect the third article of the treaty lately con- 
cluded between the said United States, and his Catholic 
Majesty. I wish to be informed, when it will be con- 
venient for your Excellency to receive my credentials. 
I am, sir, with due respect. 

Your humble servant, 

Andrew Ellicott." 

To which the Governor returned this Bunsby-like reply: 



150 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

a gjjj " Natchez, 24th Feb. 1797. 

By your favour of this day, delivered to me by Mr. 
Nolan, I learn with pleasure your arrival at this post, 
in the character of commissionary in behalf of the United 
States, to ascertain the boundaries between the Territory 
of his most Catholic Majesty, and that of the said United 
States. 

I have the honour to be, with the highest respect. 
Sir, your most humble servant, 

Manuel Gayoso de Lemos." 

The Governor's note is typical of his policy. It was 
the beginning of a long official correspondence on the 
subject between himself and Major Ellicott, and his skill 
in never permitting anything definite to escape from his 
pen excites wonder if not admiration. As after events 
sufficiently show, his actions were not at all times as 
colorless as his letters, and the reasons for his delay 
are briefly stated by Gayarre as follows : 

" The Baron de Carondelet had determined not to de- 
liver up the posts ceded by the treaty of 1795 until the 
failure of his last attempt to detach the Western Country 
from the Union should be ascertained, for in case of suc- 
cess of course the treaty would have been annulled by the 
disruption of the American Confederacy. Therefore when 
the Spanish authorities heard of the approach of Andrew 
Ellicott, they had recourse to every artifice to postpone 
the execution of its stipulation." ^ 

"We encamped," writes Major Ellicott, "on the top 
of a hill at the upper end of the town about one quarter 

' Gayarre's History of Louisiana, vol. iii, p. 366. 



riTTSBUKG 














Pittsburg about 1800 
From a map in Melish's "Travels in the Uirited States." 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 151 

of a mile from the fort, and on the 29th hoisted the flag 
of the United States. In about two hours after the flag 
was hoisted, a message was received from the Governor 
directing it to be taken down! This request met with a 
positive refusal, and the flag wore out upon the staif." 
As Natchez was now, by the terms of the treaty, United 
States territory, the request was insolent in the extreme, 
and deserved the contempt with wliich it was met. 

Spain's policy was apparently to give up nothing until 
forced to do so ; this notwithstanding the fact that Natchez 
and the surrounding country were full of Americans and 
English-speaking people anxious to avail themselves of 
the privilege of living under the government of the United 
States. On one excuse or another the beginning of the 
survey was put off; it could not be begun until this or 
that or the other should occur. Major Ellicott was 
powerless to act without the co-operation of the Spanish 
Commissioner, Baron de Carondelet, who remained at New 
Orleans making no pretence of coming up to Natchez. 
Far otherwise, for the Journal records that " Mr. Phihp 
Nolan who had at different times been much favoured by 
the Spanish government, in being permitted to take, and 
dispose of the wild horses which are to be found in vast 
numbers west of the Mississippi, had lately been at New 
Orleans. He had much of the Baron de Carondelet's con- 
fidence, who informed him that the troubles were becoming 
serious up the river (meaning Natchez), but that he was 
determined to quiet them by giving the Americans lead 
and the inhabitants hemp! " Moreover, a letter fell into 
Major Elhcott's hands, dated June 16, 1796, written by 
Governor Gayoso to a confidential friend, stating boldly 



152 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

that the treaty was not intended to be carried into effect, 
and that delay on their part would soon reduce it to a 
dead letter. He begins his first letter to his wife from 
Natchez : 

y 

" My Love Natchez, April l?t 1797. 

. . . We are living very idly, in a fine beautiful coun- 
try on the bank of the Mississippi River which is now 
thirty three miles wide.— Our business is delayed by the 
Spanish Government and I suspect will be ultimately set 
aside this season.— I have a large Keg of Pecon Nuts put 
up for you. . . . The weather in this Country is already 
as hot as it is in Philadelphia in July— The Trees were 
green in the beginning of last Month.— We have been very 
politely treated by the inhabitants of this country who are 
to the great mortification of the Spanish Governor desir- 
ous of becoming Citizens of the U. S. . . . May the great 
disposer of human events take you and our dear Children 
under his protection is the prayer of your 

Affectionate Husband." 

Far from evacuating the forts north of latitude thirty- 
one Governor Gayoso strengthened them, pretending, when 
forced to give a reason, that the Spanish had reason to 
fear an invasion of the British from Canada. He increased 
the forces both at Natchez and Walnut Hills, sent armed 
galleys up the river, even as high as the mouth of the 
Ohio, and inflamed the Indians to acts of open hostihty. 
Meantime Major Ellicott brought down the escort he had 
left at the Bayou Pierre, and the lieutenant in command 
recruited a number of men from the country around, who, 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 153 

as Governor Gayoso was informed upon his objecting, 
could by no possibility be considered Spanish subjects. 
A detachment of troops under Lieutenant Pope came 
down the river later and joined forces with the soldiers 
already there, making the military position of the Ameri- 
cans fairly strong. 

The citizens of Natchez, anxious to see the departure 
of the Spanish, made wild and impracticable offers of all 
sorts to Major Ellicott. One was a proposal to raise one 
hundred volunteers to aid in taking the Spanish fort by 
force. A Mr. Dayton ^ of Connecticut drew up a plan 
" of a very general nature " and covering many sheets of 
paper, but just what he proposed is not clear. Still 
others waited on the American Commissioner with a scheme 
for taking Governor Gayoso captive, and sending him a 
prisoner into the Chickasaw nation! But Major Elli- 
cott's cool judgment caused him to say apropos of all 
these plans, " Bad men and fugitives from justice think 
all government, however lenient, oppressive. They hate 
law and are at all times ready to oppose it. It is there- 
fore necessary to enquire dispassionately into the situa- 
tion and probable views of every officious patriot before 
we submit to become scaling ladders to his ambition, or 
instruments to impede justice or prostrate government." 

The full share of people who stir up the more inflam- 

* Generally known as " diving Dayton." Being largely in debt in New 
England, he went to the banks of the Connecticut River and putting on a 
new suit of clothes, left his old ones on the bank, writing on the sole of his 
old shoes, " the last of poor Dayton ! " He then left the country, going to 
Natchez. It was supposed he had committed suicide, but some one from 
Connecticut, meeting him later in Natchez, concluded he must have dived 
from the Connecticut to the Mississippi. 



154 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

mable citizens to acts wholly unwarranted, were not lack- 
ing at Natchez ; and the somewhat difficult task fell to 
Major Ellicott of using measures strong enough to main- 
tain the dignity of the United States, while at the same 
time he restrained the people from actions not only vio- 
lent, but utterly lacking in common-sense. In June, 1797, 
however, an entirely unforeseen circumstance caused an 
unexpected demonstration against the Spanish, which led 
to Governor Gayoso, with his officers, being shut up for 
two weeks in his own fort. This occurrence chastened 
his spirit, and destroyed his dignity in the eyes of the 
Indians, whose respect for the Americans was consider- 
ably increased by the humiliation of the Spanish Governor. 
A Baptist minister, Mr. Hannah by name, slightly 
under the influence of liquor, became embroiled with some 
Irish Roman Catholics, who gave him a sound beating. 
He appealed to Governor Gayoso for redress. The Gov- 
ernor immediately (by what process of reasoning is not 
known) ordered him put into prison with his legs in 
the stocks. The public mind, Major Ellicott remarks, 
*' might be compared to inflammable gaz," where any 
chance spark would make an explosion. The town was 
thrown in an uproar by Mr. Hannah's arrest, and the 
Governor with his officers and several Spanish families, 
were forced to take refuge in the fort, where they re- 
mained two weeks. Wishing during this time to confer 
with Major Ellicott, Governor Gayoso was obliged to 
leave " the fort by a circuitous route, through thickets 
and cane brakes, made his way to the north side of his^ 
aid's plantation, and thence through a cornfield to the back 
of the house, and entered the parlour undiscovered, where 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 155 

I joined liim. . . . The humiliating state to which he was 
reduced, by a people whose affections he had courted, . . . 
had made a strong and visible impression upon his mind 
and countenance," 

Major Ellicott showed a degree of wisdom and states- 
manship on this occasion which won him the esteem of the 
principal inhabitants of Natchez and the surrounding 
country. He helped them to form a committee for local 
government upon a peaceable basis (this committee was rec- 
ognized by Governor Gayoso), and to draw up resolutions 
declaring themselves to possess the freedom of American 
citizens. Whether the Spanish evacuation of the posts 
came early or late, it was to be distinctly understood that 
Spanish rule did not extend to them or to their possessions. 

But all the while the business of marking the boundary 
was no nearer. Major Ellicott wrote to his wife Oct. 7, 
1797 : " The business on which I came here yet remains 
suspended, and God knows whether It ever will be at- 
tempted or no.— I wish it was decided." He fears she 
could not credit his former statement about the width of 
the Mississippi and says : " The Mississippi continued to 
overflow the country the distance of 37 Miles, from the 
beginning of March till the beginning of August, when 
it retired within its banks— tliis Is the case every year, 
. . . This wonderful River Is now at this place, but about 
a half of a mile wide. This will explain what seemed in- 
credible In one of my former letters." 

In July Governor Gayoso was appointed Governor 
General, vice the Baron de Carondelet, and consequently 
succeeded him as Spanish Commissioner for marking the 
boundary. His place at Natchez was filled by Captain 



156 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Stephen Minor. It seems but fair to say that Major 
EUicott esteemed both Governor Gayoso and Captain 
Minor highly, recognizing perfectly that their policy of 
delay was probably due to explicit instructions from their 
government. It in no way impaired his personal regard 
for them. 

" In the beginning of December, a considerable detach- 
ment of troops from the army of the United States 
arrived at Natchez: . . . unfortunately . . . the Com- 
mandant -^ . . . was much indisposed by an inflammatory 
complaint on one side of his head, and face, . . . that evi- 
dently had an effect upon his understanding." He treated 
both the Spaniards and the inhabitants in a manner wliich 
Major Ellicott calls "outrageous," and evidently came 
near to stirring up once more all the local troubles at 
Natchez, which had just been smoothed over with such 
diplomacy. 

In January, 1798, the pressure which had been brought 
to bear for the evacuation of the posts was finally suc- 
cessful, and Governor Gayoso wrote from New Orleans 
that he was instructed to vacate the posts and commence 
the boundary line.^ 

Feb. 10, Major Ellicott wrote to his wife: 

" My Love 

... I embrace a few minutes at midnight, (as the boat 
is just going off and the night taken up in making out 

* Captain, afterwards Major, Isaac Guion, 3d United States Infantry. 
After being honorably discharged from the service in 1802, he settled in 
Natchez, where he died in 1825. 

" Monette's History of the Valley of the Mississippi, vol. i, p. 530. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 157 

my despatches for the Secretary of State,) ^ to assure you 
that myself, and all the party in a good state of health, 
and that we shall in a few days proceed to business— I 
have at length worried the Spaniards out." 

But it is not until the 29th of March that the Journal 
records, " Late in the evening, I was informed through a 
confidential channel, that the evacuation would take place 
the next morning, before day, in consequence of which, 
I rose the next morning at four o'clock, and walked to 
the fort and found the . . . rear guard just leaving it, and 
as the gate was left open, I went in, and enjoyed from 
the parapet, the pleasing prospect of the gallies and boats 
leaving the shore, and getting under way: they were out 
of sight . . . before daylight. The same day our troops 
took possession of the works." 

It was five months after the Spaniards' departure, in 
August (1798), that Winthrop Sargent, recently ap- 
pointed Governor of the Mississippi territory, arrived at 
Natchez, together with General Wilkinson, who came to 
take command of the troops. It is therefore evident that 
Major Ellicott was right in considering that he and his 
immediate associates bore the brunt of the difficulties 
incident to the evacuation of the posts, and that to 
them belongs the credit of " worrying the Spaniards 
out." That it was not only his mind and body that were 
worn out by the long delays is shown by a letter to his 
wife in which he says that " his shirts will soon be gone," 
and that as new ones at New Orleans are so dear that he 

* Major Ellicott's reports to the Secretary of State during his entire stay 
in the South were very full and accurate. 



158 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

would rather go naked than buy them there, he desires 
some new ones, made by her own hands, to be forwarded 
to him. " One half of them are to be Ruffled," he is par- 
ticular to explain, and he also needs some silk stockings, 
but he begs her above all to send him a miniature of her- 
self, and adds : " This I have long wanted, and been press- 
ing you for the favour more than ten years." 

Immediately on the departure of the Spanish, Major 
Ellicott left Natchez for Clarksville, and lost no time in 
starting the long delayed hne. Here he was later joined 
by Governor Gayoso, who appointed Captain Minor and 
Mr. William Dunbar to attend the survey on behalf of 
his Catholic Majesty. The Governor's visit is mentioned 
in his next letter to his wife. 

" My dear Gmii " ^^^^^ Batou Sarah, June IQ*!! 1798. 

. . . This forenoon Mr. Dunbar the Spanish Commis- 
sioner myself and Andy spent on the line,- the afternoon 
I intended to have dedicated in writing to you ;— but on 
our return I found the Tent filled with company— I wished 
them a thousand times at the devil.- They did not leave 
us till after coffee.— It is impossible in this country to 
write after night, and even sometimes in the day, on 
account of the amazing swarms of flies, Muskeetos and 
gnats ; all thirsting after the blood of man.- Our beds 
are all surrounded with a kind of thin curtains called bears 
to keep them off when we go to rest, — mine are elegant 
silk ones.— . . . 

M'". Gillespie, Andy, and a fine boy in my family by 
the name of Walker (who I intend for Polly if they live 
to meet) are the life of our business. . . . 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 159 

Governor Gajoso paid me a visit a few days ago at 
my Camp in the woods- We met and saluted in the Spanish 
manner by kissing! I had not been shaved for two days— 
Mens kissing I think a most abominable custom.— . . . 
It is now 9 OClock at night and my eyes almost put out 
by the Musketoos— 

May God preserve you and our dear children is the 
prayer of 

Your Affectionate Husband." 

" On the 7th of June, we moved our camp to Little Bayou 
Sara. The weather had now become extremely hot, and the 
season being uncommonly wet, and our men badly pro- 
vided for with tents and other covering, they were gen- 
erally indisposed and unfit for duty. We were therefore 
reduced to the necessity of either abandoning the business 
for some time, or employing slaves ; the latter was adopted. 

The first twenty miles of country over which the line 
passed, is perhaps as fertile as any in the United States ; 
and at the same time the most impenetrable, and could 
only be explored by using the cane knife and hatchet. 
The whole face of the country being covered with strong 
canes, which stood almost as close together as hemp 
stalks, and generally from twenty to thirty-five feet high, 
and matted together by various species of vines, that con- 
nected them with the boughs of the lofty timber, which 
was very abundant. The hills are numerous, short and 
steep: from those untoward circumstances we were 
scarcely ever able to open one fourth of a mile per day, 
and frequently much less." 

The beginning of September Mr. Dunbar went back to 



160 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Natchez, leaving Captain Minor alone to represent Spain. 
Major Ellicott was sincerely sorry for his departure, 
speaking of it as a real loss to the public and an irrep- 
arable one to himself. Late in October they broke camp 
and went on to Darling's Creek; from there he writes to 
his wife: 

"My Love " Novbr 8th 1798. 

. . . Andy, M^. Gillispie, and young M'". Walker . . . 
are many miles in advance with the line. M^. Gillispie 
a young man of fine talents, and education is at this time 
acting as surveyor in the place of M^. Freeman who has 
turned out an idle, lying, troublesome, discontented, 
mischief-making man. At the desire of General Wilkinson, 
Governor Sargent, Judge Bruin and the first characters in 
the country whose opinions I have sent on to M''. Picker- 
ing I expeld him from the camp, — his abuse of the Span- 
ish commissioner my friend Major Minor, contributed 
not a little in determining me to take this measure— . . . 

Andy is enterprizing, industrious, and one of the most 
valuable persons concerned in the business. . . . 

Your affectionate and loving Husband. 

P. S. I have received Brother Joseph Letters tell him 
I shall write to him from New Orleans. ... I shall then 
have more leisure and a table to lay my paper on." 

While still at Darling's Creek, a letter from General 
Gayoso to an officer in the Spanish service fell into his 
hands; so important were its contents that Major Elli- 
cott forwarded the information it contained to the State 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 161 

Department with all haste, using a cipher to insure safety 
in its transmission. His letter translated from the cipher 
is as follows : ^ 

" Natchez, Nov. U^\ 1798. 

" Shortly after the ratification of the late treaty be- 
tween the U. S. and his Catholic Majesty was carried to 
Kentucky, Mr. Murray an attorney at law in that State 
proceeded down the Mississippi to visit Gov'' Gayoso and 
the Baron de Carondelet. A few days after Mr. Murry's 
interview with those gentlemen Mr. Power was despatched 
up the river apparently upon a trading voyage. He had 
secreted in a cask of sugar four despatches in cipher 
one was directed to Gen^ Wilkinson, another to John 
Brown Senator of U. S. the third to Judge Sebastion, 
and the fourth to Mr. Lackasang at the rapids of the 
Ohio. These four men and Mr. Murry receive annual 
stipends from the Crown of Spain and several others 
whose names I have not learned receive occasional pay- 
ments. Mr. Power dehvered the despatches above men- 
tioned himself. He met Gen. Wilkinson at Cincinnati in 
September last was a year. They affected for some days 
to be upon bad terms, but were privately closeted at 
night. 

This correspondence in cipher has been carried on for 
several years, it is ingeniously managed, the letters are 
deciphered by the help of a pocket dictionary. 

The first object of these plotters is to detach the States 
of Kentucky and Tenesee from the union and place them 
under the protection of Spain. If that could have been 
effected this season the treaty would never have been 

* In Mass. Hist. Soc. Pickering Papers, 21 : 341. 
11 



162 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

carried into effect: and to ascertain the probability of 
such an event, Mr. Power was sent in the beginning of 
last June into the States before mentioned. 

The design of detacliing the western country from the 
union is but a small part of the general plan which is 
very extensive and embraces objects of immense magni- 
tude ; nevertheless, to ensure success, this point must be 
first carried ; which being effected and by the system of 
promotion adopted by the court of Madrid, Gov'' Gayoso 
will be at Quito and the Baron de Carondelet at Mexico 
about the same time: so soon as this arrangement takes 
place or sooner if the necessary officers can be corrupted 
a general insurrection will be attempted, and cannot fail 
of success if the first part succeeds. Gen^ Wilkinson is 
to proceed from Kentucky with a body of troops through 
the country by the way of the Illinois into New Mexico 
which will be a central position — the route has been 
already explored. Nine tenths of the officers of the Louisi- 
ana regiment are at this time corrupted and the officers 
of the Mexican regiment which is now in this country are 
but little better. The apparent zeal of the Spanish officers 
on the Mississippi for the dignity of the Crown, is only 
intended to cover their designs till the great plan which 
is the estabhshment of a new empire is brought to matu- 
rity. Their principles are highly revolutionary. Tliis 
being understood the pohcy of the present Spanish Gov- 
ernors in this country in enticing our citizens to settle 
under their jurisdiction may be easily discovered. 

From the manner by which I have obtained the fore- 
mentioned information (which I am convinced is correct) 
I am unable to make any other use of it than to communi- 




New Orleans in 1798 
Reproduced from an old print. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 163 

cate it to our first magistrate and the department of 
state that the plan so far as it affects the U. S. may be 
counteracted— it must remain secret. 
I am, Sir, with much esteem 

Your friend & hbl. Serv* 

And"^. Ellicott." 

December found Major Ellicott at New Orleans, one 
object of his visit being to secure Governor Gayoso's sig- 
nature to the reports on the work already done. The 
Governor signed them without demur ; and with an almost 
childish enjoyment of the ceremony which he was able to 
display and with an attention to unimportant detail which 
greatly amused Major Ellicott. 

" On the 23d of February, Governor Gayoso and myself 
signed four reports, two in English, and two in the Span- 
ish language. . . . Great ceremony was used at signing 
the instruments. The Governor had a large table covered 
with fine green cloth placed in the hall of the government 
house, on which the reports were laid. A lighted wax 
taper for melting the sealing wax was placed by the side 
of a new silver standish, which appeared to have been made 
for the occasion, but the construction and form of the 
different parts was very whimsical. The sand-box was 
in the form of a drum, braced with fine silver wire, and 
ornamented with engravings representing various imple- 
ments of war. The vessel that contained the ink repre- 
sented a bedded mortar, . . . likewise decorated with 
engravings ; this device the Governor observed was in 
character, as the matter drawn from the mouth of the 
vessel frequently proved very destructive. The pounce- 



164 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

box was in the form of a globe, ... on which was en- 
graven the equator, ecliptic, colures, tropicks, &c. . . . 
The Governor and myself seated ourselves at the table and 
signed the reports ; they were then handed to our secre- 
taries and attested." 

From New Orleans he wrote to his wife: 

New Orleans, Janv lOtt 1799. 
" My dearest of all earthly beings 'i 

I have now been in this place six days.— it is carnival, 
or holiday time— it is supposed that I have come on a 
visit in consequence of which I have been treated with 
singular attention and parade ;— but this is not the case, 
ray business is different from that of pleasure.— I have 
obtained some very important information which I have 
sent to our Secretary of State, pray be careful not to 
mention anything of the above. . . . M^. Freeman is one 
of the greatest rascals and liars in existance he has done 
everything in his power to put a stop to our business 
and it was with difficulty that I could for some months 
prevent a duel between him and Andy— My business with 
the Spanish Government has been difficult and complex 
but I have at length succeeded in everything I had in 
view— ... I shall write to you several times before I leave 
this Town, and will send you some curiosities with my 
picture by the first vessel which goes to Baltimore or 
Philadelphia— . . . Adieu my love." 

The *' curiosities " are more particularly enumerated in 
his next letter, sent by the Captain of the vessel that 
carried the gifts themselves. 




Andrew Ellicott 

From a miniature painted in New Orleans in 

1799. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 165 

« - , T^ ^ "New Orleans. Feby 17^^ 1799. 

" My Deak. Giuii 

The bearer of this Capt* Morris will deliver jou a cask 
of sugar manufactured within one mile of this City — he 
will hkewise dehver you a small Box containing two fash- 
ionable fans of this country — some china-bowls part of 
my camp Furniture — a collection of shells a present to 
Jane from Miss Bruin the eldest daughter of the Honb. 
Judge Bruin — some Pecan Nuts and a miniature Picture 
of myself — it is between two small pieces of wood — care 
must be taken that it does not get wet. — It is done by a 
Spanish lady — some copies have been taken of it — It 
is an excellent likeness — You will therefore see that I am 
much altered since I left Philadelphia — The first year 
that I spent in this country I was three months confined 
with sickness, — good nursing alone saved my life, and 
that of Andy — the one fourth of my people died within 
that period — last year we were all healthy and continue 
so. — When you look at the picture you will see the face 
of a person whose life has been devoted to the service 
of his country who has ever since he left Philadelphia 
been up by brake of day and thro the encampment except 
when sick, and then he was lifted into a chair at the usual 
time of his rising — A person who disconcerted all the 
plans in this country injurious to the interests of the 
United States, and tho frequently attacked by a set of 
as complete villains as ever fled from one country to 
another, he succeeded in every attempt to serve his coun- 
try, and will without bloodshed have the treaty in a very 
few months completely carried into effect : — a part of 
the boundary will be confirmed by Gov. Gayoso and my- 



166 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

self on tuesday next, after that I shall proceed as soon 
as the wind will serve to Pensacola. — When you con- 
sider the uninterrupted constant series of difficulties I 
have had to encounter you will not wonder at the serious 
cast of my countenance to remedy which, the lady who 
took my likeness, frequently desired me to laugh. 

But from one circumstance I feel a sincere pleasure 
which arrises from the friendship and attention I have 
experienced from every person of respectability in this 
country which you will see manifested when I publish my 
correspondence, which with the Astronomical observations 
will make four volumes. 

My love to our connections and compliments to our 
friends. — May God preserve you and our dear children 
is the devout prayer of your 

Loving and affectionate 

Husband." 

All was accomplished now but the homeward voyage, 
and for that a vessel was procured and named the " Sally " 
and on the 1st of March, " we proceeded down the Canal ^ 
to Bayou St. John's and the next day gave the Governor 
and officers of government an entertainment at the draw- 
bridge. ... I was able to engage but two sailors, and 
they were both deserters from a British privateer. . . . 
With those two sailors, who were completely illiterate I 
undertook to navigate the vessel. Several masters of 
vessels offered their service, but the price they demanded 
was so high, that it was thought more economical to do 
it myself." 

* This canal from the Lake Pontchartrain " to the city walls, imme- 
diately behind the hospital" was built by the Baron de Carondelet. 



















A Letter from Andrew Ellicott to His Wife 



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A Seal Used by Andrew Ellicott 

Drawn and enlarged from impressions on 

his letters of 1785. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 167 

They were now to experience annoyance of another sort. 
While on the way to Mobile, the conduct of some Creek 
Indians who visited one of their encampments led Major 
EUicott so certainly to anticipate trouble from that 
nation that a special messenger was despatched to Col. 
Benjamin Hawkins ^ requesting an interview with the 
Creek Chiefs and himself at Pensacola, which place the 
" Sally " would reach about April 20. 

They continued to coast slowly up toward Mobile. 
It is described in the Journal as having a handsome situ- 
ation, " and some of the houses are tolerably good, and 
for so small a place, the trade is considerable. . . . The 
fort is of brick, and stands a short distance below the 
city. . . It was taken from the British during our Revolu- 
tionary war, by Don Galvez.^ . . . Since that time, it 
has been re-built, and put in a good state of defence." 

" On the 19th ... we crossed the bar and sailed for 
Pensacola, but ... on the way were obliged to come to 
for a few minutes under the stern of a forty-four gun 
frigate, and produce our passport. On my arrival at 
Pensacola, I found elegant, and convenient lodgings pro- 
vided for me, which I had reason to believe, were at the 
expense of the house of Panton, Laslie, Forbes & Co." . . . 

^ Col. Benjamin Hawkins, born 1754, died 1816. He was an officer in 
the Revolution. In 1785 he was appointed Commissioner to treat with the 
Cherokee and Creek Indians ; in 1795 he was appointed agent to superin- 
tend all Indians south of the Ohio. He was appointed to Congress in 1782- 
1786, and in 1789 was one of the first two Senators from North Carolina. 
At one time he estabUshed a settlement in the heart of the Creek Wilderness. 

^ " In 1779 Spain declared war against England, and a force from New 
Orleans under the yoimg governor Galvez, campaigned effectively against 
the British about Pensacola." — Hosmer's " Short History of the Mississippi 
VaUey." 



168 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Here on the 28th of April, Col. Hawkins interviewed 
" Mad Dog," a chief of the Creek Nation, and arranged 
for a council at which the Creeks, Governor Folch of 
Mobile, Major Ellicott, and Captain Minor, together with 
Colonel Hawkins, were to confer. The Mad Dog remarked 
that Governor Folch would not attend the council. " He 
knows," said he, " what I shall say to him about his crooked 
talks. His tongue is forked, and as you are here, he will 
be ashamed to show it. If he stands to what he has told 
us, you will be offended, and if he tells us that the line 
ought to be marked, he will contradict himself; but he 
will do neither, he will not come." 

" On the 4th of May we were joined by Col. Maxant, 
. . . who represented Governor Folch who was taken so 
unwell . . . that he thought proper to return back! . . . 
So soon as the Mad Dog discovered that Governor Folch 
was not going to attend the treaty, he . . . with some 
degree of pleasantry said :'...! told you so, a man 
with two tongues can only speak to one at a time.' " 

At the treaty Colonel Hawkins explained the nature of 
the proposed line to the Chiefs showing them " that the 
line we were tracing was not a line of property, but of 
jurisdiction, a line between white people, and not in- 
tended in any way to affect the Indians in either their 
property, manners, customs or religion." The Chiefs 
appeared satisfied, and said that whereas many crooked 
talks had heretofore been sent into their country, this 
talk seemed straight, they were therefore willing the 
boundary should be marked, and would send some Chiefs 
and Warriors as an escort to the surveying party. 

" Mr. Gillespie, the surveyor on behalf of the United 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 169 

States began the guide line from the Coenecuh to the 
Chattahocha, being escorted by the mihtary of the United 
States and of his Cathohc Majesty, together with two 
Chiefs and twenty warriors of the Creek nation," while 
Major EUicott thought it wise to remain in Pensacola 
with Colonel Hawkins, and keep an eye on Governor Folch. 
It appeared their suspicions were well-founded, for within 
a few days a large delegation of Creeks arrived, who were 
heard to say that the talks were again " crooked." 

"The Governor," says Major Ellicott, "at this time 
certainly found himself much embarrassed between us and 
the Indians. To deliver talks, and issue presents to those 
who resided .... within the United States, would have a 
strange appearance to us, and to send them away with- 
out any, after an invitation, would give them great 
offence." 

To get out of this predicament Governor Folch informed 
them unexpectedly that they must look to the United 
States for presents and deliver their talks to Colonel 
Hawkins ! " It was in vain to tell them that they came 
without our invitation, and therefore not entitled to any 
[presents], some must be given, and a compliance was 
a matter of course. After receiving from us to the amount 
of two or three hundred dollars, they left i^he place appar- 
ently well satisfied." 

In a letter to his wife at this time (June 18), he says: 

" Our work goes on rapidly . . . Col. Hawkins has been 
with me two months,— .... His influence with the 
Indians is really wonderful. . . . This country is hot both 
day and night, and cursed with poverty, and muskittoes ;— 



170 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The inhabitants of this town have to import earth to make 
their gardens with. What Bartram ^ has described as 
a Paradise appears to me Hke purgatory, but somewhat 
worse! A Principahty would not induce me to stay in 
it one hour longer than I can possibly avoid it.— If it 
had not been for pride I would certainly have ran away 
from it six months ago. It might do for a place of 
Banishment." 

Nevertheless, he describes the place as remarkably 
healthy, and the bay as a beautiful body of water well 
stored with a variety of fine fish, crabs, and oysters, and 
says the harbor is "justly considered one of the best 
on the whole coast." 

" The old fortifications stood on some sand hills back 
of the city, and too distant to yield it any substantial 
protection; [yet] the Spaniards never once attempted to 
molest the inhabitants, or injure the buildings, during the 
siege of the forts, which lasted two months. The garri- 
son made a gallant defence, and the surrender was has- 
tened by one of the magazines accidentally blowing up. 
During the whole siege . . . Don Galvez conducted him- 
self both as a man of courage and humanity. Mr. Bowles, 
. . . Mr. Philip Key of Maryland and several other 
Americans of distinction, were at that time officers under 
General Campbell who commanded the troops of his 
Britannic Majesty." 

" The trade of Pensacola," he adds, " is at this time 

* "Travels of William Bartram through North and South Carolina, 
Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the territories of 
the Muscogulges or Creek Confederacy and the Country of the Chactaws," 
published in Philadelphia in 1791. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 171 

principally carried on by the house of Panton, Laslie, 
Forbes and Company. Mr. Panton resides at Pensacola, 
and Mr. Forbes at Mobile, where they live in an elegant 
stile, highly esteemed for their great hospitality and 
politeness." 

On leaving Pensacola, it was found that their diffi- 
culties with the Indians were by no means over. At 
the Flint River they were warned by " Indian Willy," a 
" person of property who resides ... a few miles above 
the mouth of Flint river, to the following effect : ' Gentle- 
men, I have sent my Negro, to inform you that about 
twenty Indians lay near my place last night, they intend 
mischief; many more are behind: ... Be on your guard, 
and remember I have nothing to do with it." 

The hostile Indians soon appeared, with the avowed in- 
tention of plundering the camp, but the firm front wliich 
Major Ellicott's party showed caused them to abandon 
their plans. They therefore contented themselves with 
stealing some horses, and the next morning Major Elli- 
cott learned that the little schooner in which he had 
come up to the Flint River (the " Sally " drawing too 
much water for that stream) had been plundered during 
the night, the sails cut to pieces, and the running rigging 
carried away. " Upon receiving this information, my son, 
with two of the labourers . . . went to repossess her; 
on their way they saw a small party of armed Indians, 
who fled on their approach: as they drew near the vessel, 
they discovered three Indians on board of her; seeing 
that their numbers were equal, they gave a whoop, and 
sprang forward, on which the Indians jumped on shore, 
and fled with precipitation into the woods." 



172 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Patching up the rigging they went on toward Fort 
St. Mark's (Apalachee) where the larger schooner (the 
" Sally ") was awaiting them. " Immediately after we 
left the shore, it began to rain, but we soon made such 
a covering with our tents, the cut sails, and some oil 
cloths, that our people and their arms were kept dry. . . . 
The rain was so heavy that it would have been impossible 
for the Indians to attack us ... in open canoes and they 
have no other." 

These hostile Indians were afterwards discovered to have 
been the very Upper Creeks who under their Chief " Tame 
King " had visited Governor Folch. From this it is easy 
to see what manner of " talks " he gave them when relieved 
of the presence of the Americans. 

At St. George's Sound, on their way to Appalachee, 
a difficulty of a different sort presented itself. It took 
the shape of the two following letters: 

« gjj^ " Fox Point, September 22d, 1799. 

I beg leave to make known to you, that I am at present 
on a small island, on this coast, . . . with the crew of his 
Britannic Majesty's schooner ' Fox,' . . . which was 
unfortunately wrecked five days since, ... I trust, sir, 
your humanity will induce you to stop here, and devise 
with me, some means of removing those unfortunate men, 
who have nothing more than some provisions saved from 
the wreck to exist on, the island producing nothing; on 
the contrary, for two days, during the late gale, the sea 
made a breach over it, so that ... we were with nearly 
two feet water on the ground. 

Understanding that you have been driven by the Indians 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 173 

from the country where you were employed, I beg leave 
to mform you, that General Bowles, the Cliief of the Creek 
nation is with me, he expresses his wishes to see you much, 
as he thinks your unfortunate differences may be settled. 
He has no force here, therefore you may be assured no 
treachery can be intended. . . . 

With the most anxious wishes of seeing you soon 
I am your most humble servant, 

James Wooldridge 
Lieutenant in the Royal Navy." 

The other letter was in the following words: 

^i c " Fox Point, September 22^, 1799. 

I am now at the mouth of this river on my return 
from Spain by the way of London, and the West Indies, 
... to rejoin my nation the Creeks. ... I wish much 
to see you. Although we may differ in politics, yet as 
gentlemen we may associate, and be friends, at least we 
may be civil to each other; I pledge my honour to be 
so to you and rely on yours. 

I have the honour to be. 

Your obedient servant, 

Wm. a. Bowles." ^ 

* William A. Bowles was an adventurer born in 1763. He obtained a 
commission in the British Army. He was later dismissed the service. He 
became an actor, and also painted portraits. After a checkered career, 
he was appointed trading agent for the British on the Chatahootchie. His 
turbulence led to his being taken prisoner by the Spanish and sent to Madrid ; 
from thence he was sent to Manila, in 1795. Later he returned to the Creek 
Nation, whom he had previously joined, marrying a squaw and becoming 
a Chief. He was again taken by the Spaniards, and died a prisoner in 
Morro Castle, Havana, in 1805. 



174 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The arrival of " General " Bowles in the Creek country 
was a matter of importance, and Major Ellicott sent the 
news by special despatches in several directions at once. 
His own conduct is set forth in a letter immediately sent 
on to Colonel Hawkins. Enclosing the two letters he says : 

" On receiving those letters, ... I did not decide in 
what manner I should act until some time in the afternoon, 
when I concluded to go on in the open boat to those unfor- 
tunate people." 

He told them " that the country which I had the 
honour to serve, . . . had early resolved to observe a 
strict neutrality between the present belligerent powers in 
Europe. . . . That the officers and crew were certainly 
in their enemies country, and came into it with hostile 
views, an attempt therefore on my part to extricate them, 
might be viewed by the Spanish government, as a devia- 
tion from that line of conduct we had determined to 
observe. . . . They were not to expect any other aid from 
me, than what was immediately connected with humanity. 
. . . The next day the . . . commissary delivered to the 
Lieutenant 15 cwt. of flour, and 3 bags of rice. . . . Gen. 
Bowles ... is certainly a man of enterprise and address, 
added to considerable talents. He declared to me, that he 
was not taken by the Spaniards some years ago at Apa- 
lachy in the manner reported, but for political reasons 
it was necessary to give it that appearance. That in 
1794, it was proposed to him by the Minister of his 
CathoHc Majesty, to receive a commission in that service, 
and return to his nation, and attack the United States ; 
which he declined, . . . and was shortly after, and not 
until then confined. Soon after Mr. Pinckney arrived in 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 175 

Spain, he [Mr. Bowles] was informed by the Prince of 
Peace,^ that the American Minister was his enemy, and 
was again offered a commission which he decHned to accept, 
though in confinement. . . . Immediately upon the late 
treaty between the United States, and his Catholic Majesty, 
being made pubhc, he protested against it ... as inter- 
fering with the dignity of his people and nation, the 
Creeks, who were as free, and independent as any other 
nation in the universe. That the article by which the 
United States and his Catholic Majesty, are bound to 
restrain the hostile attempts of the Indians within their 
respective territories, was an atrocious violation of the 
law of nations, and should never be submitted to whilst 
his people had a drop of blood to spill. 

Further that he had warned the court of Madrid against 
running the boundary, and . . . also demanded an imme- 
diate evacuation of the post of St. Marks, . . . Had he 
arrived in time, he should have arrested the Spanish Com- 
missioner, and his party. He likewise intends to seize 
Mr. Panton's property at Apalachy. 

This is the substance of the conversation. . . . What 
credit may be due to his information . . .you are better 
able to judge of than myself: some Indians will probably 
be led away, . . . and some temporary inconvenience ex- 
perienced by the United States ; but I cannot think that 
the nation . . . will risk its existence to gratify . . . liis 
ambition. He speaks in the style of a King ; " my nation," 
and " my people," are his common expressions. . . . 

Mr. Bowles behaved . . . whilst with me in a polite and 
friendly manner." 

* Godoy. 



176 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The turbulent General Bowles is also spoken of in a 
letter to Mrs. EUicott written from Fort St. Marks, 
October 12, 1799. 

" My Love 

I arrived at this place on the 7^^ ins* after a most dis- 
agreeable passage from the Mouth of FUnt River . . . 
Seven days of the time we had nothing but bread and 
Coffee to subsist on except a few fish we caught— From 
this you will naturally conclude that we set out in a hurry— 
— we did so — we fled from the Indians who had come 
to a determination to plunder our camp we kept them 
off by force and made our retreat good with but little loss 
of Property except horses which has been considerable. 
Andy behaved with courage and coolness . . . and was one 
of the three who drove away an equal number of Indians 
from a small schooner in our employ, which they had plun- 
dered, and destroyed the Rigging, and robbed the persons 
on board of all their cloaths 

On my way to this place I fell in with M^. Bowles. . . . 
His return is a subject of surprize to the Spaniards. . . . 
They dread his influence with the Indians, what part he 
will act I cannot pretend to say, but rather suppose he 
will let the U. S. alone, and attack the Spaniards— He be- 
haved to me with great politeness and furnished me with 
the necessary Charts, and directions to sail round Florida 
Point- .... 

The arrival of M^. Bowles is a matter of such impor- 
tance that I have already sent expresses to Pensacola, S*. 
Augustine, to Col. Hawkins, and to the Secretary of 
State— . . . 




Benjamin Rt'sh 

Reproduced from a steel engravin<,r l)y J. B. I>ongacre after a painting 

bv Sully. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 177 

I am now living on board the U. S. Schooner The 
Sally - ... in which I shall sail for St. Mary's after 

laying in the necessary sea-stores We all enjoy 

good health, tho' living in swamps and marshes, and fre- 
quently exposed to rains, and night dews-^ ..." 

* He ascribes his good health to the excellence of some pills put up for 
him by Dr. Rush of Philadelphia before he left home. " Each of these pills 
was composed of two grains of calomel, with i a grain of gambage, com- 
bined by means of a little soap." It was not until his supply of these was 
exhausted that he fell ill. 



12 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE FLORIDA BOUNDARY (Cmtmued) 

" Immediately on my arrival at St. Marks, I communi- 
cated Mr. Bowles's design of taking that place to the 
Commandant. . . . But the caution had no effect: Mr. 
Bowles remained unmolested until he had in part regained 
his former influence with the Indians, and then besieged and 
took the Fort of St. Marks, which was defended by about 
one hundred infantry, and more than one dozen pieces 
of good artillery. 

At St. Marks, I was treated by the Commandant Mr. 
Portel and his lady, with politeness and hospitality. 
Madame Portel is an agreeable Spanish lady and possesses 
a considerable share of vivacity, and good understand- 
ing. . . . 

Fort St. Marks, (frequently called Apalachy,) is situ- 
ated on a point of land at the confluence of the Apalachy, 
and another stream of nearly the same size ; they are too 
small to be called rivers. The Fort is built of hewn 
stone, and the work tolerably well executed: on the north 
side of the Fort, and adjoining the wall, is a deep wet 
ditch, which extends from one of the streams of water 
to the other. 

The country round the Fort; ... is almost as level as 
the water in the Bay, . . . and when the tides . . . are 
aided by a brisk S. W. wind, it is overflown. . . . The soil 
does not appear to be more than two or three feet deep ; 



180 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

. . . and is supported by an horizontal stratum of lime- 
stone of an indifferent quality. The Fort is built of this 
stone, and likewise an old tower, which stands about a 
league S. W. from the Fort. . . . The quarry from whence 
the stones were raised to build the tower is but a short 
distance from it. When or for what purpose this tower 
was erected appears to be uncertain, but from its moulder- 
ing condition, and the total decay of the wood formerly 
connected with its walls, it is probable that it was built 
shortly after the Spaniards took possession of that coun- 
try. On the top there appears to have been a light-house. 
. . . There is about half an acre of ground round the 
tower, raised by art so high, as not to be overflown, which 

was probably used as a garden 

Some miles north of St. Marks, there is a tract of 
country, though not extensive, which is tolerably good, 
and here the Spaniards had a small settlement or colony; 
but it was conquered about sixty years ago by an enter- 
prizing party from Charles Town, South Carolina ; it 
is now totally abandoned and scarcely a vestage of the 
settlement remains, except the ruins of a fort, and one 
or two pieces of old artillery, almost in a state of com- 
plete decomposition." 

Having gone up the Apalachee River from St. Marks, 
to meet the surveying party, who had been all the while, 
notwithstanding Spanish intrigue and Creek and Seminole 
hostihty, vigorously pushing on the work of the boundary 
line, Major Ellicott left in the " Sally," for the trip 
around Florida to the St, Mary's River, where he would 
again meet Mr. Gillespie, the surveyor, and his party and 
complete the line. He says : 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 181 

" My undertaking this voyage, was a matter of necessity, 
and not of choice, and could it have been avoided with 
advantage to my country, I certainly should not have 
taken upon myself so important a charge. Having on 
board the commissary Mr. Anderson with all his accounts, 
and vouchers, for the money expended since we left the 
city of Philadelphia in 1796: and all the papers, drafts, 
and astronomical observations, relative to the boundary, 
and some other important geographical positions, with 
the originals of all my correspondence, for more than three 
years, together with the apparatus, and baggage of the 
party, including the military escort: to which may be 
added, about twenty persons, of whom but five had ever 
been at sea before, and of those five two only were 
sailors. . . . 

Thus circumstanced, I left St. Marks on the 18th of 
October, in a small light built schooner, of not more than 
88 or 40 tons burden 

On opening one of the barrels of beef, which had been 
salted up at St. Marks, it was found . . . useless: . . . 
the remainder was unfortunately found to be in the same 
situation. This discovery appeared to produce some un- 
easiness among the crew, several of whom were for return- 
ing to St. Marks for a fresh supply; but as we had a 
great sufficiency of bread and flour on board, the proposi- 
tion met with such a decided negative, accompanied with 
a reprimand, that it prevented any complaints during 
the voyage, though we were frequently in disagreeable 
situations." 

After a good deal of bad weather they reached Tampa 
Bay October 27th. The 29th they sighted Cape Sable, 



182 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

and " came to an anchor on the west side of . . . Sandy 
Key, which is a ... . short distance south of the Cape. 
. . . Myself and some of the crew, took our boat, and went 
to the island, where in a very few minutes, we shot about 
twelve dozen plover. There are some bushes scattered over 
the island ; . . . and amazing piles or stacks of the prickley 
pear, . . . the fruit was large and in high perfection : we 
eat very plentifully of it. . . . Though this island is called 
Sandy Key, and has the appearance of a body of sand, it 
is little more than a heap of broken and pulverized 
shells. . . . 

31st. Went on shore on Key Vaccas where our people 
in a short time killed four deer, of that small species, 
common to some of those islands. They are less than our 
ordinary breed of goats. 

November 2d. Took some large turtle and fine fish. 
Visited by Captain Burns of New Providence whose vessel 
lay at the east end of Key Vaccas. He was on a turtling 
and wrecking voyage. . . . 

3d. Killed some more small deer and salted them 
up. . . . 

5th. . . . Came to an anchor under a small Key, . . . 
and [went ashore,] but was compelled to return by the 
incredible number of musquetoes ; on coming to the boat, I 
found the men had jumped into the water to avoid the 
attacks of those troublesome little animals. . . . 

7th. Made sail early in the morning and came to an 
anchor at one o'clock p. m. in the harbour ... of the old 
Matacombe, where we found it necessary to take in wood 
and water. This island is noted for affording a greater 
quantity of good water than any other of the Keys, on 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 183 

which account it is much frequented by the turtlers and 
wreckers. . . . This island ... is said to have been the 
last residence of the Coloosa Indians, the original inhabi- 
tants of East Florida: From whence they were gradually 
expelled by the Seminoles, or Wild Creeks. From Mata- 
combe they were taken to . . . Cuba by the Spaniards, 
and incorporated with their slaves. But this measure does 
not appear to have been taken without provocation : these 
Indians were remarkable for their cruelty, which they ex- 
ercised indiscriminately on all the unfortunate people, who 
were wrecked within their reach on that dangerous coast. 
The island of Matanza, (slaughter,) which lies about one 
mile northeast from the watering place, was so called from 
those Indians massacring about three hundred French, who 
had collected on it, after being wrecked on the reef." 

While at Matacombe Major Ellicott had a practical 
illustration of what the gratitude of that audacious " man 
of enterprise " General Bowles, amounted to, and though 
he had expected but little, he met with even less than his 
expectations. He says : 

" I expected to have been overtaken at St. Marks, by 
a vessel laden with a quantity of provision from New 
Orleans. . . . Supposing this vessel would pass through 
St. Georges Sound, and if so, be liable to be captured by 
Lieut. Wooldridge, and his men, ... I mentioned the cir- 
cumstance of this vessel and provision, to the Lieutenant, 
. . . and to Mr. Bowles, . . . and requested them to fur- 
nish her with a passport to follow me round Cape Florida, 
to St Mary's. . . . They were informed that no objection 
would be made to their taking such a supply of provision 



184 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

as their immediate necessities required. . . . They returned 
me many thanks and . . . assured me the vessel should 
not be detained . . . but forwarded immediately," 

On the 8th arrived at Matacombe, laden with provisions, 
the schooner " Sh9,rk " which had been captured at St. 
Georges Sound by Lieut. Wooldridge, and his crew. They 
refused to give Major Ellicott so much as a barrel of 
pork, and without even making a return for the pro- 
visions so generously provided to them when they were 
in distress, they " crowded all sail, and stood over the 
reef." " Thus," remarks Major Ellicott, " were we 
requited for our favors ! " To add to his indignation, 
a letter later received from Mr. Panton informed him 
that the " Shark " was no other than his own expected 
vessel of provisions. " It was," wrote Mr. Panton, 
" unfortunately captured somewhere on the coast ! " So 
that General Bowles and Lieutenant Wooldridge had not 
only broken their promise, but had coolly sailed away with 
their benefactor's cargo! 

The captain of a privateer whom they fell in with, 
more kindly in his behaviour, furnished them with some 
salt pork which with the turtles and deer made a suffi- 
ciency of meat until they could lay in more supplies. 

" [November] 12th, About two o'clock in the morning 
I was called up to see the shooting of the stars (as it is 
vulgarly termed), the phenomenon was grand and awful, 
the whole heavens appeared as if illuminated with sky 
rockets, flying in an infinity of directions, and I was in 
constant expectation of some of them falling on the vessel. 
They continued until put out by the light of the sun 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 185 

after daybreak. This phenomenon extended over a large 
portion of the West India islands, and was observed as 
far north as St. Marys where it appeared as brilliant 
as with us." 

The following morning, being passed by a sloop which 
for some reason excited their suspicions, they gave chase 
and captured her. It proved when her captain was 
brought on board the " Sally " that she was a Spanish 
" prize " being taken north by her captor, and her papers 
were perfectly satisfactory. 

The master and his people " had been seven days on 
allowance of one biscuit, and a pint of water each per 
day, with what fish they could take, which they had to 
eat without salt. The master took breakfast with me, and 
when he was ready to return, I directed our commissary 
to furnish him with a barrel of biscuit, and some salt, 
upon which he observed that he had, never before been 
so fortunately chased and taken," The " prize " vessel 
was wrecked a day later in a gale which blew for four 
days with unabated violence. 

" 18th. The wind was more moderate. ... In the 
afternoon were brought to by a New Providence privateer, 
commanded by Captain William Ball, who had been but a 
short time from Ireland, and who treated us . . . with a 
degree of insolence far beyond anything I had ever before 
experienced. But after examining my instructions and 
commission, and viewing the signature of President Wash- 
ington with all the attention and veneration that would 
have been paid to a holy relick, he became more moderate, 
and made us sufficient compensation for his insolence, by 



186 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

presenting us with a fine turtle, and after wishing us a 
pleasant passage, we parted." 

After another violent storm they went ashore Novem- 
ber 23rd at the mouth of Fresh Water River, " and 
gathered a large quantity of very fine limes : a party of 
our people likewise took their rifles, . . . and were un- 
commonly fortunate in killing deer and turkies 

Along the Florida Reef and among the Keys, a great 
abundance and variety of fish may be taken: such as hog- 
fish, grunts, yellow-tails, black, red, and gray snappers, 
mullets, bone-fish, amber-fish, margate-fish, barracoota, 
cavallos, pompui, groopers, king-fish, siber-fish, porgys, 
turbots, stingrys, black drum, Jewfish, with a prodigious 
variety of others. . . . Turtle are to be had in plenty ; 
those we took were of three kinds: the loggerhead, hawk- 
bill and green. . . . We Hkewise found a remarkable 
species of prawns, which Kve in great numbers in holes 
in the rocks: they frequently weigh two or three pounds 
a-piece, and are improperly called lobsters ; they want 
the large claws that lobsters have. Their meat is harder 
and less delicate than that of the lobster. . . . 

Key Biscanio [near the mouth of the Fresh Water 
river] is much frequented by the privateers, wreckers and 
turtlers from the Bahama Islands. ... In that harbour 
we found several of [these], by whom we were politely 
treated, particularly by a Captain Johnston, who fur- 
nished me with seven or eight pounds of salt pork. . . . 

25th, about noon we got under way and proceeded 
over the reef into the Gulf Stream. Shortly after, . . . 
we saw a vessel bearing down upon us, but did not dis- 
cover that she was a privateer until she attempted to 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 187 

bring us to by a shot : being determined to make the best 
use we could of the first fair, strong breeze we had had 
... we crowded all our sail, and the privateer did the 
same, but in two hours she gave up the chase." 

Still a third gale drove them out of their course and 
put them back, " to our mortification," records Major 
ElHcott in the Journal. 

" December 2d. ... In the afternoon came to an anchor 
... in a good harbour. The satisfaction which the crew, 
and myself experienced . . . may be more easily conceived 
than expressed. We were now able to take a night's re- 
pose, free from those cares and anxieties which must ever 
attend the reflecting mind in our past situation ; exposed 
to the turbulence of the sea in a little vessel, having but 
two young illiterate sailors on board, along a dangerous 
coast with which we were all unacquainted, and experienc- 
ing three violent gales, which we afterwards found had 
wrecked as many vessels, much better calculated to resist 
the fury of the winds and billows than ours. . . . 

It has been mentioned by Dr. Franklin, that the water 
of the Gulf Stream does not sparkle in the night. This, 
so far as my observations go is incorrect: . . . the 
water of the Gulf Stream was the most sparkling and 
luminous: . . . 

The same ingenious writer and philosopher, likewise 
observes, that the Gulf weed is a sign of being in the 
Stream. This is in part true, but by no means : . . . a 
general rule, because the water on the borders of the 
Stream, is constantly mixing with the adjoining water, 
and leaving some of the weed behind, which: ... is 



188 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

carried off many leagues : . . . These remarks cannot 
affect the character of Dr. Frankhn, either as a writer 
or philosopher : his character is formed of materials which 
will elude the destroying hand of time itself, and will be 
revered so long as liberty and science command the affec- 
tions and esteem of mankind." 

They engaged a pilot for the inland passage to St. 
Marys, but as he proved to be far from skilful and after 
removing the " Sally " from a good harbour to a bad 
one, next distinguished himself by running her aground, 
they let him go, and on arriving at St. Simons, engaged 
another. 

" 9th. . . . After engaging the pilot, I spent a few 
hours in examining the ruins of that once handsome and 
flourishing town ; [Frederica] which during . . . Gen. 
Oglethorpe's administration was the seat of the colonial 
government of Georgia. The town ... as nearly as I 
could judge, appeared to have been regularly laid out, 
that is, the streets at right angles to each other, and the 
whole surrounded by a wall of earth, except that part 
lying ... on the water which was defended by a small 
battery of " tabby work," (as it is called in that country), 
which is a composition of broken oyster shells and lime. 
The walls of the principal houses . . . were of the same 
composition. The appearance is similar to rough-cast, 
and some of the walls seemed as solid as though they had 
been cut out of a rock. . . . 

The character and services of Gen. Oglethorpe do not 
appear to be sufficiently appreciated. . . . His time was 
employed either in defeating the Spaniards, (by whom his 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 189 

little colony was several times invaded), erecting forts, 
joining the meandering waters in the low flat country by 
canals, to render the communication more expeditious, . . . 
and otherwise increasing the value and consequence of his 
government. . . . 

At half an hour after twelve o'clock, the tide serving 
we left Frederica and arrived at St. Marys at half past 
six the same evening. This passage was one of the quick- 
est ever known. 

At St. Marys we met our companions who came through 
the wilderness from the mouth of Flint River, . . . [after 
a journey] . . . rendered tedious and disagreeable by the 
autumnal rains. . . . 

The night of that same day he wrote his wife: 

" My Love " ^*' M^^^'^' December 9*^, 1799. 

I have this moment arrived at this place after a long 
and Dangerous voyage from West Florida.— I had but 
two sailors and had to navigate the Solly myself— . . . 
The Vessel's cook ^ died on the passage and we left him in 
the gulph Stream— I shall write perticularly in a few 
days. . . . May God Protect you and our dear Children." 

The Journal proceeds : 

" When I arrived at the town of St. Marys, . . . find- 
ing that I could not obtain quarters in the town for 
myself and people, free of expense to the public, I re- 

* John Ransom ; he was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army until dis- 
charged for age. Major Ellicott took him into his employ " through charity 
and to gratify his wish to return and die in the land of Uberty for which he 
had fought." 



190 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

moved on the 12th to Point Peter, and encamped ^ in a 
forest of live oak, where a number of people were engaged 
in cutting ship timber for the United States: the offal 
wood served us for firing. . . . After we had encamped, 
the instruments were unpacked and set up: and a course 
of observations, and some mathematical operations begun. 
. . . We found provisions in that part of Georgia very 
high and scarce, and many of the inliabitants were im- 
porting corn, and other necessaries of hfe for their own 
consumption: from this circumstance we kept but a small 
supply by us." . . , 

His despatches to the Secretary of State were forwarded 
with all the regularity possible, and his letters to his wife 
usually, it is inferred, were sent with them. He writes: 

" Dear Sai^ly " I'^^'^ ^^^' J^°^- i^*''' i^^^' 

I have sent my sea journal to M"". Pickering with a 
request that he would hand it to you when he had read it- 
You will see by that, that I am already a part of a sea- 
man, but it has been thro' necessity, and nothing but neces- 
sity would make me attempt it again— 

Since I left you, I have travelled in all ways, some- 
times in an open canoe, at others in a boat, sometimes 
with pack-horses, at other times on the Ocean— No sum 
that could be mentioned, or honour conferred, would 
tempt me to go thro the same fetigue, and anxiety of mind 
again— But thanks be to providence that the business 

'■ " This system I pursued from the time I left Pittsburgh in 1796 until 
my return to Philadelphia in 1800, and whatever attention and shelter the 
men might require, I occupied no quarters myself at the expense of the 
public." — Journal, p. 270. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 191 

is now nearly completed notwithstanding the intrigues 
of the Spanish government, and the opposition from the 
indians. . . . 

I have just learned with sincere sorrow that General 
Washington is no more. A greater man will not die this 
age.- his whole life was spent in the most arduous em- 
ployments for the service of his country ..." 

" East Florida [he says in the Journal] is but little 
better than a wilderness. 

The Florida Keys and reef, . . . furnish a great num- 
ber of harbours, . . . and advantageous stations for 
cruizers, . . . But instead of any advantage being de- 
rived, . . . from these favourable situations, they serve 
as dens and hiding places for the privateers and picka- 
roons of the Bahama Islands, by which the trade of both 
nations [Spain and the United States] has suffered im- 
mensely in spoliations. . . . The coast and islands being 
uninhabited even by a single solitary settler from Apa- 
lachy, almost round to St. Augustine! From which the 
inhabitants of the Bahama islands cut and carry off, . . . 
the valuable ship timber. . . . 

The first permanent settlement in East Florida, was 
attempted by some French protestants in the year 1562, 
to secure ... a retreat from religious persecution. But 
the King of Spain . . . dispatched Don Pedro Malendez 
de Aviles, ... to destroy this infant settlement, which 
he effected in a most cruel and barbarous manner in the 
year 1565 and established a colony at St. Augustine. . . . 
In 1856 St. Augustine . . . was taken ... by sir 
Francis Drake, and in 1665 it was again taken and 



192 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

plundered by Captain Davis, who headed ... a body of 
Buccaneers. In 1702 an expedition was carried on against 
it by Col. Moore, Governor of Carolina; his force con- 
sisted of five hundred EngHsh troops, and seven hundred 
Indians, with whom he besieged the city for three months 
without success and then retired. 

Except those incidents the history of East Florida 
from the setthng of the colony in 1565, is little more 
than a succession of Governors, until Gen. Oglethorpe 
took possession of Georgia, which circumstance excited 
considerable jealousy at the court of Madrid, and a large 
force was sent against him, which he not only defeated, 
but . . . carried his conquests to the gates of St. Augus- 
tine, and laid siege to that city in 1740 ; but being badly 
supplied with almost every article necessary to give 
success to such an undertaking, he was obliged to re- 
linquish liis design. By the peace of 1763, the Floridas 
were ceded to his Britannic Majesty George the third, 
but who . . . was reduced to the necessity in 1783 of . . . 
restoring them to his Catholic Majesty who yet retains 
them. . . . 

On the 19th [of January, 1800,] the observations at 
Point Peter were closed, and the instruments taken down 
and packed up. 

The 23d we left ... St. Marys, and proceeded up 
the river as far as it was navigable for the United 
States Schooner and then made use of canoes until an 
end was put to our navigation on the 6th of February, 
by drift wood, logs and other impediments. . . . 

[February] 7th. We began our observatory, and sent 
a party to examine whether there was any communication 
between the river and Okefonoke Swamp. . . . 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 193 

This being the season that the Alligators, . . . were 
beginning to crawl out of the mud and bask in the sun, 
it was a favourable time to take them, both on account 
of their torpid state, and to examine the truth of the 
report of their swallowing pine knots in the fall of 
the year. . . . For this purpose two alligators of about 
eight or nine feet in length were taken and opened, 
and in the stomach of each was found several pine and 
other knots, pieces of bark, and in one of them some 
charcoal ; but exclusive of such indigestible matter the 
stomachs of both were empty. So far the report 
appears to be founded in fact: but whether these sub- 
stances were swallowed on account of their tedious 
digestion, and therefore proper during the time those 
animals lay in the mud, or to prevent a collapse of the 
coats of the stomach, or by accident owing to their 
voracious manner of devouring their food, is difficult to 
determine. . . . 

Some of the Alligators we killed were very fat, and 
would doubtless have yielded a considerable quantity of 
oil. . . . Their tails are frequently eaten by the Indians 
and negroes, and Mr. Bowles informed me that he thought 
them one of the greatest of delicacies. ... I confess their 
appearance was so disagreable and offensive to me, that 
I felt no inchnation to undertake the dissection of one 
of them. 

The second party which had been sent to ascertain the 
connexion, . . . between the river St. Marys and the 
Okefonoke Swamp returned on the 17th, . . . and the 
day following a traverse was began, to connect the obser- 
vatory with that part of the Swamp from whence the 

13 



194 ' ANDREW ELLICOTT 

water issued, in order to determine its true geographical 
position." 

On the 26th Major ElHcott and Captain Minor took 
a party of laborers to the Swamp and " had a large 
mound of earth thrown up." This mound is at the point 
where the land boundary between the States of Georgia 
and Florida ends ; the St. Marys river being the bound- 
ary from thence eastward to the Atlantic. " Elhcott 
Mound " is indicated on all maps of Florida or Georgia, 
near the head of the river St. Marys, in the Okefonoke 
Swamp. 

" The astronomical part of the boundary . . . being 
now completed, it only remained to make out the report 
with the maps or charts of the line. As a proper place 
for doing this business we agreed to go and encamp on 
the south end of Cumberland Island, where fire-wood could 
be had without any expense to the pubHc, and where we 
could be more retired and less interrupted by company." 

From Cumberland Island he wrote to his wife: 

"My Love " AprU 5th 1800. 

On Wednesday next I expect we shall be ready to ratify 
the Journal, with the Charts, and plans.— It has been 
to me an arduous task,— the journal which includes the 
report to the two nations, is very lengthy, not much short 
of a quire of paper, and the Charts, and plans extend 
in length about 18 feet,— the whole of which with an 
infinite number of calculations I have gone thro in less 
than 4 weeks. ... 

I intend going from this place to Savannah in the 
Sally. . . . From Savannah I propose going on to Phila- 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 195 

delphia in a larger vessel. You will hear from me next 
in the Delaware. 

I am ahnost worn out and would not again undertake 
such a piece of work as the journal report and charts 
for the whole county of Camden. . . . 

My health except three months sickness at Natchez, 
(where good nursing alone saved my hfe) has been toler- 
ably good, but my complexion is gone, and only to 
be restored by our northern climate.- 

... I once more have a speedy prospect of returning 
to you, for whom alone, with our dear cliildren, relations, 
and friends, does life appear desirable.- I have done my 
duty to my country, to the extent of my abilities, and 
my ambition is fully gratifyed. ... I am, my dear 
Sally, 

Your Affectionate Husband." 

The Journal continues : " The reports ^ with the maps 
. . . being completed on the 10th of April, we . . . left 
Cumberland island, ... for St. Marys, . . . where on 
the 25th I again took the direction of the vessel, having 
but one sailor, exclusive of two or three of our labourers 
who had came round Cape Florida with me. . . . The 
wind serving we . . . proceeded along the sound to the 
Plumb Orchard. . . . The 26th ... I paid a visit to the 
family of the late Major General Green, who now resides 
on Cumberland Island. . . . 

27th. . . . We crossed the bar, put to sea, and laid our 
course for Tybee hght-house. . . . About 9 o'clock in 

1 The report signed by Major Ellicott and Don Estevan Minor has been 
lost. It is thought to have been destroyed in a fire which consumed the 
Treasury Building. 



196 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

the evening we saw the hght. ... A short time after 
midnight the light in the lantern of the light-house went 
out. . . . 

May 1st. . . . We sailed up to the City of Savannah." 

Here they left the " Sally," and chartered a sloop for 
the passage to Philadelphia, where they arrived at eight 
o'clock in the evening of May 18th, 1800, where all the 
hardships and trials he had encountered by land and 
water, during his long absence of three years and five 
months " were more than compensated for by the pleasure 
I experienced in meeting my family." 

This Florida boundary required, as has been amply 
shown, much that was entirely aside from the actual sur- 
vey. It called for a display of tact and statesmanship 
where the Spanish officials and the citizens of Natchez 
were concerned, and for unceasing coolness and courage 
both then and later on. It was no light matter to run 
the line through what was practically the enemy's coun- 
try, and it was a still more difficult feat to bring his 
party safely home around so dangerous a coast. It was 
probably one of the most important pieces of work which 
Major Ellicott ever undertook for the government, and 
President Adams and Mr. Pickering, the Secretary of 
State, gave their most cordial approbation to the way in 
which he accomplished it. Thomas Jefferson wrote him 
he was " happy to see that the location of the boundary 
had been so scientifically executed," and says it will be 
a " great gratification " to see the Journal in print. His 
associates in the American Philosophical Society received 
the Journal with warm praise for both its literary and 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 197 

scientific value; Dr. Benjamin Rush saying it could not 
fail of placing his name with those of Franklin and Rit- 
tenhouse; and that the public recognized its interest and 
worth is shown by the fact that it was twice reprinted. 

" I cannot take leave of the different subjects of this 
journal," is its ending, "without acknowledging my ob- 
ligations to that kind Providence, which preserved me 
from the dangers that have been described, and probably 
from many others unseen, and unknown. . . . 

May the now peaceful shores of the Mississippi, never 
be made vocal with the noise of the implements of war, 
and may its waters never be dyed with human blood ! — 
With this wish, thanking my reader for his patience in 
looking over these pages, I bid him adieu." 



CHAPTER IX 

THE LAND OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA 

1800-1812 

The Florida boundary work, and the warm commendation 
it received made Major Ellicott a figure of more promi- 
nence than ever in the scientific world. The title given 
him— " Geographer General of the United States," seemed 
fitly bestowed. No one could at that time more justly 
claim the appellation. 

The year following his return was spent quietly at his 
home in Philadelplua. He was principally occupied in 
putting his Journal in a form suitable for publication, in 
writing papers on various subjects for the Pliilosopliical 
Society, of which he was not only a valued member but an 
officer as well, and in carrying on a large correspondence 
with many eminent men both at home and abroad. 

Of the quiet days of rest following upon the arduous 
ones whose record is given in the preceding pages, no 
better picture could be drawn than is contained in two 
or three letters to Mrs. Ellicott, who in the early part 
of 1801 was visiting their daughter Mrs. Griffiths (Mary 
Ellicott) in New York. They take the form of diaries 
rather than letters and each httle incident of the every 
day living is given, in a manner that must have made 
them very satisfying to the absent wife and mother. 



200 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

" My Dear " I*hiladelphia, Jany- 15*^ 1801. 

Got up later than common, read the news paper, eat 
brakefast.— Went to the Museum,— detained till 11 
OClock by a heavy rain,— then paid Doc^'' Priestly a 
visit,— returned and dined. . . . Weather too warm for the 
season, many windows raised. . . . Walked in the after- 
noon with neighbour Donaldson,— returned, drank tea. 
At 7 OClock intend going to M^. Peale's Lecture.— I ob- 
served to Jane, who is now by me, that it was doubtful 
whether I should have a letter from you tomorrow or 
no,— she replied, very doubtful!— 

Peale's Lecture to-night will be upon Monkeys. I told 
Jane at dinner it would be proper for young ladies to be 
present at the Lecture, to see the resemblance between 
Monkeys, and fops. Jane's mind was occupied with the 
subject till tea, and then enquired if it was M'^ Peale's 
opinion that Monkeys and Foxes were of the same species, 
and classed by naturalists under the same head?— She mis- 
took the word fops, for foxes ! Without pretending to 
much knowledge in natural history I really think the re- 
semblance much more striking between a Monkey and 
Fop, than between a Monkey and Fox. Returned from 
the Lecture at % past 8, and found Billy Hawkins, Billy 
Graff, Kittie Graff, and Jane at cards, and Doc^'". Mitchell 
and Sally looking on.— Was very well pleased with the 
Lecture. . . . The card party has this moment broke up, 
the watchman is crying 'P-A-S-T — T-E-N — 
O - C - L - O - C - K ! ' and I have laid down the book I 
have been reading in for more than an hour and pray 
that the Deity may take us in his holy keeping, and grant 
us a comfortable nights repose." 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 201 

" January W^. 

" Got up, read the newspaper,— took brakefast.— then 
went to Market,— wrote a long letter to my friend M'^. 
Cochran at Natchez.— A visit of two hours from Doc^^. 
Rush,— Dined, did not mention your name : no letter from 
you;— it does not require a note of admiration.— Shall 
begin a letter to M'^. Jefferson this afternoon ;— but do 
not expect to finish it before monday or tuesday next.— 
Stuttering Evans has just left me, he was two thirds 
slewed, (as the Rahway people call being in liquor), he 
endeavoured to talk to me about a mistake in M''. Ritten- 
house's Treasury accounts which has been lately dis- 
covered. ... I have this moment heard to my surprize 
and grief, of the death of my friend M^. Jones a member 
of Congress from Georgia. You remember my dear he 
was at our house the Sunday that M'^. Graff, Brackenridge, 
and others dined with us.— ... I shall immediately go 
to tea, and from thence to the Philosophical Society. At 
% past 7 OClock as Vice President of the Philosophical 
Society, I took the chair in that learned body, so often 
occupied by Franklin, Rittenhouse and Jefferson.— There 
was much business before the Society, and we did not 
adjorn till near 10 OClock this evening. I have just 
returned home, shall carry this to the post office and then 
go to bed. My love as usual. 

Yours Affectionately, 

And^. Ellicott." 

"My Sally "Philadelphia January l?*'!. 1801. 

Last night after returning from the post office which 
was past 10 OClock I added a paragraph to my letter to 



202 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

M^. Jefferson. Went to bed at 11 OClock- got up early 
this morning, read the newspaper, eat brakefast— sent 
Jane to Market.— added a paragraph to my letter to 
M^. Jefferson. — at 10 OClock was visitted by Doc^^ 
Priestly, who you know, is considered as one of the great- 
est men now alive— he looks very well, and is remarkably 
lively for a person of his great age- Dined at 1 OClock. 
Finished my letter to M^. Jefferson. . . . Received a let- 
ter from Anderson at the City of Washington. . . . No 
letter from you this day,— a variety of company great 
part of the afternoon.— My throat sore and somewhat 
painful.— . . . Walked out before sun-down to the Center- 
House, returned and drank tea: After tea: examined some 
communications to the Philosophical Society which were 
referred to me to report on. Some of them are interesting, 
particularly two, or three from my friend M^. William 
Dunbar of Natchez. Jane has been reading one on the 
language by signs now practised by several of the South 
western tribes of Indians. I have seen them used. Nine 
oclock in the evening. Throat still sore and I feel myself 
feverish. Received two watches from M^. Patterson to 
regulate, and a sextant to adjust. Company till about 
10 OClock— drank some beer and went to bed, wishing 
you health, and more happiness and ease than it is in 
my power to give you " 

« My deae " I'HiLADELPmA January 19tl», 1801. 

I got up early this morning,— felt uncommonly well, 
read the newspaper.— eat brakefast,— Went to the Uni- 
versity where I spent 2 or 3 hours.— returned, find that 
I am represented in the British news papers as being much 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 203 

alarmed at the arrival of M^. Bowles on the coast of 
Florida,— this affords me a good opportunity of setting 
that affair in its true light to the publick. Eat dinner,— 
too rainy to walk out.— Read Peales new electrical system 
of the universe!— it is extravigant, visionary, nonsense, 
but he thinks that Sir Isaac Newton's principia is not even 
the A. B. C. of it ! He is much more capable of classing 
butter-flies, catterpillars, snakes and bull-frogs, than of 
making improvements in Astronomy.— ... In the even- 
ing Uncle Linton came to stay with us till morning.— 
Drank tea gave Uncle Linton Peale's Lecture to read. 
He soon got tired of it.— Conversed till 11 OClock and 
went to bed. 

" January 20*^. 
"... A young man of this City who was in low cir- 
cumstances, yesterday drew a prize of 3000 dollars in the 
Church Lottery, he thanked G— d upon receiving the in- 
formation and exclaimed " I shall be able to pay my 
debts." It appears that he was security for two or three 
men who ran away and left him the money to pay.— 
Plagued with a long visit from Doct^ Barnwell, the most 
tedious uninteresting man alive, five times he took hold 
of the latch of door to go, and as often I thanked god. 
Dined and went to my room ... I do my dear most 
cordially thank you for your letter, and assure you that 
I shall experiance a singular happiness at our meeting, 
and will endeavour never to be outdone in affection.— You 
no doubt wonder at the numberless blunders in my let- 
ters.— I will now explain it. They were only intended for 
yourself, and not to be shewn to any person, and were 



204 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

always written wliile I was conversing with company or 
some of the Children . . . believe me 

to be your affectionate 

Husband." 

So the quaint record runs on, showing the manner of 
his life when leisure, his rarest possession, was his for a 
time. With the dearly loved young family around him, 
with friends whom he valued close at hand, and privileges 
which he cherished always available, he was free to indulge 
his favorite pursuits, and to benefit from a change of 
thought and occupation as a less active man would benefit 
from absolute idleness. 

In July of this year Major Ellicott went to Washing- 
ton, and the visit held for him what he calls one of the 
most flattering and honorable incidents of his life. It 
was the offer from his good friend President Jefferson of 
the post of Surveyor-General of the United States. The 
offer was not one to be either lightly accepted or rejected, 
and he so writes to Mrs. Ellicott from Georgetown, July 
4, 1801: 

"My Love 

. . . On my arrival at this place I was cordially re- 
ceived by the President and different officers of Govern- 
ment— The President has offered me the Office of Sur- 
veyor General of the U. S.- I have not yet agreed to 
accept, neither do I intend making my mind up on that 
subject till you and myself deliberately weigh the advan- 
tages, and disadvantages.— Should I accept, we should 
have to reside, at least for some years, in the western 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 205 

CounLi'y:— But it would put it in my power immediately 
to provide for Andrew, by giving him either a Clerkship 
in the Office, or the deputation of a district, and I think 
would enable us to make all our Children more inde- 
pendent.— If you are at home when you receive this con- 
sult Jane upon the subject; but keep it secret from others. 
The Salery is two thousand dollars p^ Annum, which is 
equal to that of the Governour, and more than double that 
of the Judges. 

I am my dear Sally 

yours Most Affectionately 

And^, Ellicott." 

He had, obviously, no objection to the office of Surveyor 
General, but the offer was eventually declined, because of 
various fixed regulations concerning the administration of 
its duties which made it seem, on mature consideration, 
far from desirable. 

He writes, in a letter relative to this business of the 
Surveyor Generalship, that he is " distressed because his 
pay " (for the Florida boundary) " has been withheld. I 
have been obliged to sell my valuable library, and dispose 
of my Theodolite to procure money for market tomorrow, 
and for nothing but faithful services, never used a far- 
thing of public money, never lost a single observation by 
absence or inattention, and never when out on public 
business was caught in bed by the sun." He adds, as in 
sharp contrast to the treatment he has received, that " the 
Spanish Commissioners divided about twenty six thou- 
sand dollars and have been complimented by the court of 
Madrid." 



206 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

The complaints contained in this letter are only too 
true, and it is safe to say that Major Ellicott was never 
generously, or even fairly, treated as to his salary or his 
expenses on any of his public service, except at those 
times when he held an office with a fixed salary. His pay 
for State and Government boundary or other work was 
always detained until long overdue, and only too often 
was withheld entirely. To the shame of his employers, 
who so illy requited his honest and disinterested services, 
this fact must stand recorded. Honor and fame he had in 
good measure, together with friendship and good-will 
from those who stood highest in the land, but for the 
payment of the salaries which were justly due him, and 
for the lack of which he suffered such severe financial 
embarrassment, he had always to plead and contend and 
only too often to go without them in the end. 

A better financial outlook came in October, 1801, when 
he was appointed Secretary to the Land Office of Penn- 
sylvania by Governor McKean of that State. To hold 
this office it was necessary that he should reside at Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania. This he and his family found to be 
a pleasant home. The salary was good, and the duties 
were light, leaving him abundant leisure for the pursuit 
of his astronomical and scientific researches, and for the 
large correspondence dealing with matters scientific, polit- 
ical, or personal, which was one of his chief pleasures. He 
wrote his letters slowly, in most cases drafting them care- 
fully, and many of them show a knowledge of literary 
construction and a choice of words which is above the 
average of the letters of that day. His correspondents 
during a period of forty years included, among many 




Reprotluced from a steel engravino; bv J. B. Loii>,'acTe after tlie paiiitino; 
bv C. W" Peale. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 207 

others, such men as David Rittenhouse, Benjamin Frank- 
lin, Dr. Priestley, Dr. Rush, Dr. Caspar Wistar, Bishop 
Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Gallatin, Alexander 
PTamilton, Robert Morris, Jeremiah Day,^ President Madi- 
son, Winthrop Sargent, Robert Patterson, Timothy Pick- 
ering, as well as the two distinguished French astronomers 
and scientists, M. Delambre ^ and M. Lalande.^ Robert 
R. Livingston, then Minister to France, wrote him con- 
cerning his letters to the two latter that he should think 
himself " happy in being the channel of your further 
correspondence, being assured that the result will be use- 
ful to mankind ; " and he encloses at the same time a letter 
from M. Delambre, Secretary of the National Institute 
of France. 

To his brother Joseph, now Secretary of the Holland 
Land Company at Batavia, Major Ellicott wrote often 
and affectionately. In Joseph's youth, his brother Andrew 
had helped him to positions which had led to the pros- 
perity he now enjoyed; he never forgot what he chose to 
consider his obligation, and during the lean years, when 
the Government pay came slowly or not at all, he never 
withheld substantial aid from the brother to whom he felt 
himself indebted. The two brothers thought alike on most 
questions of the day, and their letters to each other were 

* President of Yale College. 

* Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, a distinguished French astronomer, 
born at Amiens, 1749. He was elected to almost every scientific association 
in Europe and in his own country honors were showered upon him, and 
he was made a Chevaher of the Order of St. Michael ; he died at Paris, 1822. 

' Joseph Jerome le Fran^ais de Lalande, born at Bourg, in 1732, was pro- 
fessor of astronomy at the College of France for forty-five years. He was 
the author of several works on astronomy and science. He died at Paris 
in 1807. 



208 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

always very long and full, and touched on many points 
of various interest. Major Ellicott's eldest son Andrew, 
his companion on so many surveys, had recently married, 
and on a trip which he made to western New York, with 
a view to choosing a place to settle, was the bearer of the 
following letter from his father to his Uncle Joseph: 

« Dear Brother " Lancaster, Jany 3d, 1803. 

This will be handed to you by Andrew, if he should be 
so fortunate as to reach your settlement at this disagree- 
able season of the year. He seems inclined to leave the 
mill if he can fix himself advantageously in your country, 
of this, (with your advice), he will be able to judge when 
on the ground. I should have wished his continuance at 
the mill, if it had only been to prevent the buildings fall- 
ing down, which will inevitably be the case in two, or three 
years, unless rented, or leased out. . . . 

I have a large work now in the hands of the Printer, 
but the pubhcation will be delayed much longer than I 
could wish on account of the Maps, which are not yet 
ready for the engraver, and I have not one moment I can 
spare from the duties of my office to work upon them ex- 
cept on Sundays. . . . 

Our Legislature last winter were economy mad, and had 
it not been for a few dispassionate members, government 
would have been prostrated to make room for the goddess 
of meanness:— In short, had the plans of some popularity 
seeking gentry succeeded, the business of the government 
would have been suspended for want of competent officers, 
and clerks. Gov'' M^Kean is a friend to liberal salaries ; 
but the officers must do their duty, and close their pubHck 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 209 

accounts quarterly or retire:— this regulation has intro- 
duced such order in every department of the government, 
that the whole goes on hke a well-regulated piece of 
machinery. . . . 

Your affectionate brother 

Ani>w. Ellicott. 

• P. S. " With what little french I learned while in the 
Floridas and New Spain, added to a little attention to 
it since my return, I am now able to read it off in english 
without any difficulty, and can translate it as fast as 
I can write. I have lately received some valuable presents 
in books both from France, and England. 

A. E. 

" I have enclosed a copy of this letter taken in 15 sec- 
onds, by which you will see the value of a copying machine- 
Mine is not larger than a common travelling desk." 

That young Andrew liked what he saw of western New 
York is evidenced by the following letter written to Mrs. 
Ellicott while she was on a second visit to Mrs. Griffiths 
in New York: 

" Lancaster 24*1' February in the 
" My Dear evening 1803. 

I suppose you begin to think me very negligent about 
writing and I really think so myself.— Immediately after 
you went away I began my compound grid-iron pendulum, 
which occupied every moment of my time, (out of office 
hours) including . Sundays till yesterday morning when 
I completed it, and then went and dined with the Gov- 
ernour. . . . 

14 



210 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Andrew and his Cousin Joseph Evans arrived this morn- 
ing from the Geneseeo country in good health. — Andrew 
has determined to move there in the Spring. . . . 

Exclusive of my earnest wishes to see you, I think you 
are beginning to be wanted at home. My love to our 
connexion 

and believe me to be your affectionate 

Husband.' 

Life moved on easily for the household at Lancaster 
through the next few years. There was enough of work 
to occupy Major ElKcott's days, enough of salary to 
remove all financial care, enough of leisure to be given 
to those subjects of science, astronomy, and the phenom- 
ena of nature, which were always more or less in his 
thoughts. Something of the matters which interested 
him is shown in the following letters written him by 
Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson in the fall of 
1803: 

<« gjj^ " Pahis, 30th. Septr, 1803. 

I did myself the honor to dehver your letter to M^. 
Delalande a few days after I received it, he appeared to 
be very much pleased at the contents, & has requested 
me to transmit you his answer which I send herewith— I 
know of nothing new in the hne you mention which you 
will not find in the proceedings of the national institute 
which I presume you receive— The fact of the fall of 
stones from the sky, having been put, by some late en- 
quiries almost beyond a doubt the Philosophers are now 
disputing whether they are generated in the atmosphere 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 211 

or whether we owe them to volcanic eruptions in the moon, 
as much remains to be said on both sides ; prudent men 
have not yet thought it proper to pronounce judgment. 
But it may be new to you to learn that while the moon 
is pelting at us with red hot pebbles, the fix stars are 
counteracting her measures, & raying down cold upon 
us— This I assure you upon the authority of Count Rum- 
ford who has made a number of very new & very im- 
portant discoveries on the transmission of heat & cold, 
for cold it seems is not a negative quality, but as much 
a body as heat, & may like it be reflected from a polished 
surface. If two polished brass balls are heated to the 
same degree & one of them is covered with linnen or var- 
nish it will cool much quicker than that which is uncov- 
ered : if covered with a black animal substance ; still 
quicker; because black absorbs the rays of cold &c.— 

His work is not yet published, but he tells me he means 
to go to England as soon as possible for the purpose 
of publishing— If D''. Priestly should fall in your way 
I will pray you to present my comp^^ to him, & to men- 
tion this subject to him— his ingenious researches will 
probably add much to them— I am sorry he has not 
executed the resolution that he told me he had formed 
of paying a visit to the arts & sciences in this country 
that I might have had the pleasure of seeing him while 
I remain here— 

I am. Sir, with much esteem 

Your most ob*. hum. Serv* 

Rob'^ R. Livingston." 



212 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

" Deau Sir " Washington Dec. 23, 03. 

I received last night your favor of Dec. 17. . . . 
I find nothing surprising in the raining of stones in 
France, nor yet had they been mill-stones, there are in 
France more real philosophers than in any country on 
earth: but there are also a greater proportion of pseudo- 
pliilosophers there. the reason is that the exuberant 
imagination of a Frenchman gives him a greater facility 
of writing, & runs away with his judgment unless he 
has a good stock of it. it even creates facts for him 
which never happened, and he tells them with good faith. 
Count Rumford after discovering cold to be a positive 
body will doubtless find out that darkness is so too. as 
many as two or three times during my seven years resi- 
dence in France, new discoveries were made which overset 
the whole Newtonian philosophy ; two or three examples 
happened of spontaneous combustion of the living human 
body, of houses, &c. in all these cases the evidence of 
nature, derived from experience, must be put into one 
scale, and in the other the testimony of man, his igno- 
rance, the deception of his senses, his lying disposition 
&c. and we must see which preponderates. . . . Accept 
my friendly salutations & assurances of esteem. 

Th : Jefferson." 

In this year the Journal, whose careful preparation 
had taken so much time, was published, and added much 
to its author's growing fame. In this year also he re- 
ceived a visit from Captain Meriwether Lewis, who when 
it was " proposed to send an exploring party to trace 
the Missouri to its source, to cross the Highlands and 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 213 

follow the best water communication which offered itself 
from tlience to the Pacific ocean, immediately renewed 
his solicitations to have the direction of the party. — 
While attending at Lancaster to the fabrication of the 
arms with which he chose that his men should be provided, 
he had the benefit of daily communication with Mr. 
Andrew Ellicott, whose experience in astronomical ob- 
servation and practice of it in the woods, enabled him 
to apprise Captain Lewis of the wants and difficulties 
he would encounter and of the substitutes and resources 
offered by a woodland and uninhabited country." ^ 

There is perhaps no other incident of Major Ellicott's 
life which so appeals to the imagination as this, where 
the veteran explorer and engineer brings forth, for the 
eager young man whose hope of conquering a wilderness 
is so strong witliin him, all the lore of the land primeval, 
all the knowledge fought for and gained in the woods of 
Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Western New York and on 
the rivers and bayous of the southern states. It was 
the counsel of a ripe exj>erience that Major Ellicott gave. 
Danger had been his own daily comrade throughout long 
years, privation and hardship he had met at the very 
outset of his career, and he had long ago learned how 
to make friends with them. How much or how little of 
Captain Lewis' success may be traced to his wise counsel 
we cannot know, but one would like to have been a listener 
at the conferences of the two men, to have heard with 
Captain Lewis the secret of baffling and subduing the 

' Memoir of Captain Meriwether Lewis by Thomas Jefferson, in 
the History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Elliott Coues, vol. i, 
p. XX. 



214 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

adversities of nature, and the way to travel unharmed 
through a wilderness that sought to devour you.^ 

Another visitor of distinction was Baron Humboldt — 
to whom Major Ellicott gave the following note of in- 
troduction to Aaron Burr, then Vice-president: 

« Dear Sib. "Lancaster, June lltl^> 1804. 

I beg leave to introduce to your acquaintance and civili- 
ties the bearer, the Baron De Humboldt : — He is now on 
his return to Europe from an interesting tour thro south 
America.— You will find him a gentleman of information, 
science, and real worth.— Your attention to him will con- 
fer a particular favour on your 

real friend, and 
Hbl Servt 

And^ Ellicott." 

In 1808 Major Ellicott had the honor to be elected 
a member of the National Institute of France, and until 
1808 the pleasant life at Lancaster and the uneventful 
performance of the duties of the Land Office went on 
undisturbed. But in this year the government of Penn- 
sylvania underwent a political change unpleasant in its 
consequences to Major ElUcott. He was removed from 
the Land Office by Simon Snyder, the newly elected gov- 
ernor, who succeeded Governor McKean. It is certain 
that Major Ellicott's political views were directly opposed 
to the party now in control of the State. It is also 

* The expedition of Captain LiCwis is mentioned many times in letters 
from President Jefferson to Major Ellicott. " Captain Lewis," says a letter 
of Oct. 25, 1805, " has furnished us a most accurate map of the Missouri 
for 1600 miles and has added 164 or 8 new animals to the American list." 




g 



J X 

a ^ 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 215 

certain that the party which had elected Snyder admired 
Wilkinson, and as we have seen, Major Ellicott had turned 
important evidence as to Wilkinson's schemes in the 
southern territory over to the State Department as soon 
as it came into his possession. His unpopularity with 
Wilkinson's adherents was an inevitable if unjust con- 
sequence of his faithfulness. 

He continued to reside at Lancaster after his enforced 
resignation from the Land Office, but he keenly felt the 
injustice of the treatment accorded him and expressed 
his opinion of such perversion of the powers given to public 
officials in some vigorous and plainly worded attacks 
upon Snyder and his followers, which he published in 
a Lancaster paper over the signature " Citizen." He 
was both hurt and angry, and with good reason. He 
wrote to Joseph Ellicott in 1810 — 

" If I had money, I should go to the Mills and put 
them in order, and if they were once agoing, the Presi- 
dency of the United States would not tempt me to leave 
them. But to this place, from my fine garden, and young 
thriving fine fruit trees, and grape vines, all the work of 
my own hands, I feel more attached than to any other 
place.— Grafting and innoculation I think I have brought 
to the highest degree of perfection.— This year I had a 
peach tree loaded with peaches only three years old from 
the stone, and grafted, and another but two years from 
the stone and innoculated. They were certainly the finest 
peaches produced in this place this season." 

In the same letter he says — 



216 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

" Nancy ^ reads, and translates french with great ease- 
several of her translations have appeared in print. I 
have taken much more pains with John, but he has not 
the same turn for learning a language." 

A httle pride in his own acquaintance with the French 
language is shown more than once in his letters and 
journals. He read and wrote it with ease, and often his 
quotations from French literature show more than a slight 
degree of famiharity with it. He wrote to Timothy 
Pickering in 1811 — ^ 

" Dear Sir/ Lancaster, March 12*^ 1811, 

Till this moment I did not recollect my promise to 
send you the extract from Helvetius — it is as follows, 
' II sait combien il est utile de tout penser & de tout 
dire, & que les erreurs cessent d'etre dangereuses, lorsqu'il 
est permis de les contredire : ' Wliich I translate thus : — 
' It is known how useful it is to think and speak freely ; 
and errors themselves cease to be dangerous, when it is 
permitted to contradict them.' M'*. Jefferson says in 
his inaugural address — 

* Let them stand undisturbed, as monuments of the 
safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated, when 
reason is left free to combat it.' — The ideas are the 
very same. 

That part of M'*. Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, where 
he speaks of the bad policy of encouraging the introduc- 

' Ann ElUcott, afterwards Mrs. David B. Douglas. It is remembered 
of her that in her old age she still read French with ease and pleasure. 

^ Manuscript in Massachusetts Historical Society, Pickering Papers, 29, 
436. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 217 

tion of foreigners, appears to be borrowed from Montes- 
quieu's rise and fall of the Roman empire. 

Wishing you a safe and happy return to your family 
I am with 

great esteem, and respect 

Your sincere friend and hb^ serv* 

And^^. Ellicott." 

The persecution of the politicians did not entirely 
cease with his removal from office. Of the manner in which 
they further sought to annoy him, he writes — 

" The legislature of Pennsylvania in the month of 
January 1811 under the administration of Simon Snyder 
deprived me of the use of a reflecting telescope belonging 
to the commonwealth- The telescope was placed in my 
hands by a former legislature during the enhghtened 
and patriotic administration of M^. M^'Kean, ... but 
having been long neglected was unfit for use ;- I therefore 
had it sent to London and repaired. On its being returned 
it was set up and made use of both for making astro- 
nomical observations and to gratify the curiosity of such 
members of the legislature as had a desire to view the 
stars and planets. But when M»\ Snyder became governor 
the scene was changed, science and literature became ob- 
noxious to men whose uncultivated minds could not com- 
prehend their use to society. So thought and so acted the 
goths and vandals when they first invaded Italy.- .... 

" The telescope of the commonwealth is now useless and 
being in the hands of ignorant incompetent persons who 
neither know its use nor how to manage it when set up, 
will if science should ever again be revived in Pennsyl- 



218 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

vania, have once more to be sent to Europe to be repaired. 
Fortunately having an accromatic telescope of my own 
my observations have not been entirely suspended." 

He says elsewhere, " Did not the Journals of our legis- 
lature attest this fact, it would not be beheved by 
posterity." 

He wrote fully and freely to his brother Joseph of 
his annoyance and troubles, but in April, 1811, he has 
something pleasanter to tell — the prospect of an im- 
portant survey for the State of Georgia. 

*' Dear Brother 

On Sunday last I received an appointment from the 
state of Georgia, to determine the boundary between that 
state, and N. Carolina:— It will be a tolerable job, tho 
not immediately productive. ... A considerable por- 
tion of last winter, I was compelled to spend in the City 
of Washington on Wilkinson's business, for which I re- 
ceived two dollars p^ diem, when the best economist could 
not in that place exist upon less than three: I therefore 
consider myself robbed of one dollar p'" diem. M"" and 
M^^ Madison treated me with the greatest respect, and 
attention, and consulted me confidentially on some very 
important points. I am convinced M^ Madison, would 
oblige me with pleasure, and is only deterred from the 
fear of offending the present ruling power in this state, 
whose animosity appears to know no bounds. The fol- 
lowing facts speak a language not to be misunderstood. 
■ — During my absence last winter, the legislature by a 
formal resolution deprived me of the use of the state 
Telescope, and thereby put a stop to a course of obser- 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 219 

vations which I was carrying on in conjunction with the 
National Institute of France.— Immediately after the 
passage of the resolution, my friends in Philadelphia pro- 
posed to erect an observatory in the State-House yard, 
as an appendage to the Philosophical Society, and the 
University, and to be placed under my direction and 
management. This was no sooner discovered at this place, 
than a resolution was brought forward in the lower house, 
to dispose of that property; and was only stopped by 
abandoning the plan. . . . Judge Cooper . . . who was 
certainly one of the firmest, and most impartial judges 
in the commonwealth, has been removed from his office: 
He is certainly the first literary, and scientific character 
in the State ; but his talents, and firmness at this time, 
render him very obnoxious. ... A resolution has already 
been laid upon the table for the removal of Judge Wilson. 
. . . The citizens of this State are certainly labouring 
under some strange infatuation: it was only the week 
before last, that Jonathan Roberts one of our Senators 
declared in his place ' that this commonwealth possessed 
too much talents, that their growth was too exuberant, 
and ought for the security of the citizens to be clipped.' 
Tho this observation might be applied to the talents 
of Judge Cooper it certainly has no bearing upon me. . . . 
Believe me to be your affectionate 

Brother " 

Major Ellicott took his son Joseph with him on the 
Georgia survey. They embarked at Philadelphia, July 
6, 1811, on the Georgia Packet, saihng for Charleston, 
N. C. " On the evening of the 5*^ my two youngest 



220 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

daughters Nancy and Rachel arrived from Lancaster 
to see us set sail," so runs the first entry in his diary of 
this survey. 

This diary, in its present form, appears to have been 
written up from notes, after his return home, and his 
close observation of the physical features of the country, 
the methods of cultivating the land, the style of houses, 
the manners and customs of the people, as well as the 
way in which he caught and imprisoned in his written 
pages the spirit of the times, the evanescent ways of 
thought of the people among whom he travelled, make 
it a matter of regret that so much of the diary must of 
necessity be omitted here. 

The trip down was slow, and after their arrival in 
Georgia the surveying party had to make a difficult jour- 
ney of a hundred miles on foot, because the Governor 
of Georgia ^ failed to provide horses for them. It was 
late October before they neared the place of beginning. 
October 25th the diary notes that the party after toil- 
somely traversing the wooded mountain ridges, arrived 
at Mr Lynch's, and adds that the 

" Captain Lynch just mentioned was the author of 
the Lynch laws so well-known and so frequently carried 
into effect some years ago in the southern states in 
violation of every principle of justice and jurisprudence. 
M^. Lynch resided in Pittsylvania in the state of Vir- 
ginia when he commenced legislator and carried his sys- 
tem into effect:— the detail I had from himself and is 
nearly as follows. — 

I D. W. Mitchell. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 221 

The Lynch-men associated for the purpose of punishing 
crimes in a summary way without the tedious and tech- 
nical forms of our courts of justice. Upon complaint 
being made to any member of the association of a crime 
being committed witliin the vicinity of their jurisdiction 
the person complained of was immediately pursued and 
taken if possible. If apprehended he was carried before 
some members of the association and examined :— if his 
answers were not satisfactory he was whipped till they 
were so. Those extorted answers generally involved others 
in the supposed crime who in their turn were punished 
in like manner.— These punishments were sometimes severe 
and not unfrequently inflicted upon the innocent thro 
spite or in consequence of answers extorted under the 
smarting of the whip. . . . 

M*". Lynch informed me that he had never in any case 
given a vote for the punishment of death some however 
he acknowledged had been actually hanged tho not in the 
common way a horse in part became the executioner : 
the manner was this. — The person who it was supposed 
ought to suffer death was placed on a horse with his 
hands tied behind him and a rope about his neck which 
was fastened to the limb of a tree over his head. In this 
situation the person was left and when the horse in pur- 
suit of food or any other cause moved from his position 
the unfortunate person was left suspended by the neck,— 
this was called aiding the civil authority. — It seems 
almost incredible that such proceedings should be had in 
a civilized country governed by known laws it may 
nevertheless be relied on. I should not have asserted it 
as a fact had it not been related to me by M^. Lynch 



222 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

himself, and his neighbour M''. Lay one of the original 
association together with several other Ljnch-men as 
they are called. This self created judicial tribunal was 
first organised in the state of Virginia about the year 
1776 from whence it extended southward as before 
observed. 

M^. Lynch has the appearance of an antient athlet and 
had he hved in the times of the Olympic games would 
probable have figured * on the bloody arena \'— he pos- 
sesses a strong but uncultivated mind is hospitable and 
generous to an extreme to which may be added a great 
stickler for equahty and the rights of man as established 
by law! so contradictory are the ideas and conduct of 
the only creatures supposed to be endowed with reason 
and judgment in the universe." 

Another anecdote deals with gentler matters and is 
prefaced with the remark that: 

" Literary and scientific information is yet in its 
infancy . . . Few books are to be met with in the coun- 
try houses and for the greater part of those they are 
indebted to the Rev^. M^. Wemms who has for a number 
of years past been in the practice of frequenting the 
courts and other publick places with a cartload of well 
chosen books to dispose of reserving a very moderate 
profit to himself. The excentricities of this man are 
much more than counterbalanced by the aid he has 
rendered to letters in that part of the United States. 
He is a musician as well as a preacher and commonly 
carries a violin to divert himself with in liis bookselling 
excursions. I was informed that in passing thro a swamp 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 223 

in that country his cart got mired in the mud from which 
after endeavouring in vain for some time to extricate it 
he uncased his viohn seated himself on the seat of his cart 
and amused himself with playing hail Columbia, yankey 
doodle and other patriotick tunes till some persons 
travelling the same road fell in with him and aided him 
to lift his cart out of the mud." 

After leaving Mr. Lynch's, the Journal proceeds: 

" October 27th was spent in examining the most prom- 
inent ridges a few miles to the westward . . . and a 
traverse was directed to be carried on to the cane creek 
mountain. . . . 

On the evening of the S^ of November the party re- 
turned from the cane creek mountain after having com- 
pleted the traverse, but the general opinion was that we 
should have to carry our apparatus part of the way 
by hand as it would be impracticable to take our waggon 
to the place. The attempt however was made and by great 
labour in cutting, digging and making a road we arrived 
at the end of the traverse on the 8*^^ at the point desig- 
nated as our second position. . . . While at this posi- 
tion our observations were much impeded by clouds form- 
ing about the tops of the mountains and ridges but the 
greatest inconvenience we experienced arose from the 
smoke occasioned by the annual custom of the indians 
in burning the woods. Those fires scattered over a vast 
extent of country made a beautiful and brilHant appear- 
ance at night ; particularly when ascending the sides of 
the mountains. Not infrequently the intervalls between 
the ridges were nearly filled with a dense fog in the night 



224 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

wliich extended horizontally like water almost to the sum- 
mits of the mountains which then had the appearance 
of islands. Those fogs generally began to ascend after 
sun rise and for two or three hours so completely en- 
veloped the mountains as to render them invisible. 

In consequence of the smoke already mentioned our 
business was so much interrupted that we were not 
prepared to leave the second position till the 4^^. of 
December when we set out for our third position. . . . 
The weather in the mountains had now become cold and 
the ground on which we slept was frozen hard. Every 
person belonging to the party was put to hard labour 
such as opening and digging the road and making bridges : 
— sometimes all hands were required at the waggon to 
prevent its overturning on the sides of the mountains 
at others to aid the horses in ascending the hills. We 
brakefasted constantly before day and were at work by 
the time it was sufficiently light and never suspended 
our labour till compelled by the approach of night. . . . 
Our fare was as bad as our labour was severe. . . . We 
reached our third position on the ll^li. of December. . . . 

On the morning of the 16^*^ at S OClock we were awak- 
ened by an earthquake which was followed by two others 
at 8 OClock A. M. the latter one was so strong that my 
ink stand would have been overturned had I not taken 
hold of it. After that time shocks were felt almost daily 
in some parts of the southern country particularly in 
the vicinity of the mountains for more than two months 
which created considerable alarm in some places, together 
with a spirit of prophecy, and a few cases of reaching 
and vomitting similar to sea-sickness. . . . 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 225 

On the 25^^. of December at sun rise after walking over 
several ridges ... we began clearing away the timber 
for the purpose of extending the prime-vertical west but 
the labour was so much more than we expected that we 
did not reach the river that day tho we laboured till 
nearly dark, after which we had to travel along several 
craggy ridges and ascend the Chatoga mountain to our 
camp where we arrived about 9 OClock in the evening 
without having taken any other nourishment than pure 
water after 4 OClock in the morning. This was the 
severest days labour I ever experienced having for want 
of a sufficient number of hands to carry an axe in one 
hand and the telescope of the transit instrument in the 
other. The ridges being covered with dwarf locust, 
briars, and thorn bushes not only tore our clothes into 
tatters but our limbs and bodies were lacerated — the blood 
trickled off the ends of all my fingers. Nothing but well 
dressed buck-skin is a sufficient guarantee for the body 
and its members in those mountains." 

It was May, 1812, before the work which had commenced 
nearly a year before was completed, and Major Ellicott 
free to take passage to New York in the ship " America," 
sailing from Savannah. 

During two winter months he and his assistants had 
slept on the frozen ground. Their fare had been pork 
and cornmeal, their discomforts had been endless. At the 
end, when the survey was finished and the true boundary 
established beyond question, Major Ellicott was again 
forced to travel on foot, and this time nearly two hundred 
miles, to present his report and accounts to the Governor, 

15 



226 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

at Milledgeville, the seat of government. The survey 
showed that Georgia had claimed more than was really 
within her State limits, and the true boundary between 
Georgia and North Carolina ran eighteen miles further 
south than Georgia had supposed. The Governor's curi- 
ous method of expressing his disappointment at the result 
of the survey was one with which Major Elhcott was, un- 
fortunately, only too familiar. The payment of the sum 
agreed upon beforehand for his services was withheld, and 
instead of receiving " three thousand dollars for the year's 
work, beside all necessary expenses," which he had been 
cheerfully promised, the Governor in the end unwillingly 
advanced a small sum, barely sufficient for his personal 
expenses. The final adjustment of the claim was left to 
the Legislature of Georgia, which in November, 1812, 
" Resolved that Andrew Ellicott had received full and 
ample compensation for his services," and the claim re- 
mained unpaid. 



CHAPTER X 

WEST POINT AND THE LAST SURVEYS 

1812-1820 

A QUARTER of centurj had passed since Major Ellicott 
wrote of the appointments he had already received that 
they had been given him " without the help or favour of 
anyone." It was a statement that held good throughout 
his whole career. There is no single instance of his ever 
having sought employment ; instead of this, he was sought 
out again and again, and urged to undertake work that 
no one less gifted as an astronomer and engineer could 
accomplish satisfactorily. That he was never properly 
compensated for what he did was in no way due to lack 
of appreciation of the merit of his work. It was rather 
the result of the financial pohcy of the whole country 
at that period. He fully realized that the non-payment 
of just claims by the State or National Government 
extended far beyond his own affairs, and he himself wrote 
regarding the situation that in this country, " the economy 
of public money is considered as the standard of merit." 

Financially he might, and did, suffer, but few men in 
the country could claim more of honor and reputation 
than came to him absolutely unsought. A recognized 
leader of science during the last thirty years of his life, 
he was frequently consulted on public affairs by the chief 



228 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

men of the nation. Thomas Jefferson wrote to him in 
1803 asking him to recommend any persons whom he 
considered quahfied to be the leaders of such expeditions 
as the proposed scientific explorations in the west, one 
of which was headed so successfully by Captain Meri- 
wether Lewis. In 1807, when the Coast Sui'vey was estab- 
lished, plans for the work were submitted to Major 
Ellicott,^ and the Secretary of the Treasury wrote him 
that " The President of the United States being authorized 
by an Act of last Session to cause the whole of the Coast 
of the said States, together with the adjacent Shoals & 
Soundings, to be surveyed, it is his intention that the 
work should be executed with as much correctness as can 
be obtained within a reasonable time: and he has directed 
me to apply to you, requesting that you would have the 
goodness to suggest the outlines of such a plan as may, 
in your opinion, unite correctness and practicability." 
Prior to the purchase of Florida by the United States, 
Albert Gallatin advised with him about the acquisition 
of this territory, writing him in detail on the subject, 
and these are but a few of the instances which show the 
respect entertained for his opinion, his wide experience 
making him eminently capable of giving valuable advice 
on all matters in any way connected with his especial 
field of work. 

A year of rest followed the months of labor spent in 
settling what Major Elhcott calls, in a letter to Timothy 
Pickering, " the long controversy between Georgia and 
N. Carolina relative to their boundaries." The rest, it 

* McMaster's " History of the People of the United States," vol. iii, 
p. 468. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 229 

is more than probable, was necessary, for this difficult 
and ill-rewarded survey seems to have held a more than 
usual amount of hardship and exposure. Until July, 
1813, there is no mention of any further employment, 
but in that month another post eminently suited to his 
tastes and abilities was offered for his acceptance in the 
following letter from James Monroe, President Madison's 
Secretary of War: 

" The Secretary of War asks Mr. Ellicot to inform 
him if the appointment of Professor of Mathematics in 
the Mihtary School at West Point in the State of New 
York with the pay & emoluments of a Major of Infantry 
in the Army, equal to One thousand Dollars per annum, 
with additional allowance for quarters, fuel, & servants, 
will be acceptable to him? 

The Secretary begs Mr. Ellicott to accept the assur- 
ances of his great respect & consideration. — 

War Office, 

July 28tli 1813." 

This appointment brought the promise of a regular 
salary, congenial duties, and a position authoritative 
enough to be desirable, " the Professor of Mathematics 
ranking as the head or president of the institution." 
Major Ellicott seems to have accepted it without hesi- 
tation, and to have made immediate preparations to leave 
Lancaster for West Point. His commission sets forth 
that the President, " reposing special trust and confidence 
in the patriotism and abilities of Andrew Ellicott " has 
appointed him " with the advice and consent of the 



230 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Senate " ^ to be Professor of Mathematics at the Military 
Academy " to be obeyed and respected accordingly." 

Of this appointment Major Ellicott wrote to his 
brother Joseph: 

" Dear Brother " Lancaster October 17th, 1813. 

Your favour by M^^. Ellicott enclosing 200 dollars has 
been duly received. On her return home, she found me 
just recovering from a severe illness, which had nearly 
sent me to the world of spirits. . . . 

About two weeks ago I received the appointment of 
Professor of Mathematics in the military academy of the 
U. S. at West-point, and am now preparing to remove 
to that place :— this appointment was unexpected, and un- 
solicited either by myself or any of my friends :— the 
emoluments it is true are small, but I believe sufficient 
to support myself and small family; in point of respec- 
tability it is inferior to none in the government, and 
in Europe the first scientific characters are attached to 
their military academies, and there, as well as in this 
country, the professor of mathematics is considered the 
principal, or president of the institution. 

I confess I felt some gratification in receiving this 
appointment unsolicited. . . . My removal however, 
exclusive of the expense, will be attended with a con- 
siderable sacrifice. We shall have to dispose of almost 
the whole of our furniture at what it will bring; which 
in such cases is generally less than half price, and pur- 
chase again in New York at an advance. Had our coast 
not been blocked up by the British, we could have had 

* Executive Journal of the Senate, vol. ii, p. 509. 




n/^fij/y/^W y /^ /C/^^^^e^t^ G^/»:^^ 



f_p oMuc^cCen/ 



.- ^ 



tCx-^*^ 









T/ 



Certificate of Andrew Ellicott's Appointment as Professor of 

Mathematics at West Point 

Reproduced from the original. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 231 

our baggage and other articles taken from Philadelphia 
to West-point by water at a small expense ; but by land 
it would cost as much as some of the articles are worth ;— 
at all events, we shall have to employ two waggons to 
New York, which will require at the present prices at 
least 150 dollars. The reason of the advance on land 
carriage, is owing to our coasting trade being absolutely 
annihilated by the blockade, and almost the whole of our 
coasting vessels destroyed by the British, the seaboard 
is reduced to the necessity of employing waggons instead 
of vessels. . . . But a few days ago a number of waggons 
arrived at this place with cotton from Georgia ! . . . 

. . . M^®. Ellicott informs me, that you have some 
thoughts of retiring from the employ of the Holland 
company next spring, if so, would it not be as convenient 
to reside with us at West-point, as at any other place 
in the U. S.? We shall endeavour to make the place as 
agreeable as possible. I am, with due regard and esteem 
your affectionate brother 

And^^. Ellicott." 

By the middle of November the journey from Lan- 
caster to West Point had been accomplished. The neces- 
sary sacrifices had been cheerfully made, and only the 
advantages of the change were considered, if the letters 
written on the subject are to be taken as an index to 
the way in which the family regarded the new place of 
residence. 

Mrs. Ellicott wrote to Joseph Ellicott on their ar- 
rival and almost before they were settled in their new 
quarters : 



232 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

" My best of Brothers, "^est Point, Nov. 17, 1813. 

To apologize for not writing sooner would take up too 
much time as it is rather late. M^. E. is gone to bed 
in health but rather fateagued, and indeed we have had 
somewhat a troublesome time but as we are safe in the 
west point fort, we must forget troubles and be thankful 
as we believe it is for our future benefit, it seems a duty 
in me, to give our best of friends a little information of 
our proceedings, it cannot be interresting to any one 
except those who has proved to be interrested in our 
welfare. We sold our furniture which came to about 
one hundred and ten pound, (trifling things sold well, 
but valuable things went off at less than half price,) 
which with the two hundred dollars which you sent 
Andrew, and fifty which I had saved of mine paid our 
rents and other debts. We made an attempt to sell a 
number of books, but found no purchasers if they hapned 
to be bid up to half their value, and as we found it 
nessary to bring them on with a number of boxes of 
instruments, which took more than one waggon, we filled 
the second with our beds, cloathing, desk, two card tables, 
stone table, one looking glass, my rocking chair, wheel 
and reel, our moving altogether cost us more than three 
hundred dollars, we gave the waggoners about fifty 
dollars at starting, and M'". Griffith setled the rest, and 
not only that but purchased all our kitchen furniture 
with some other nessaries, before we arrived at New 
York. He laid in a little store for our beginning which 
hapned very well as we cannot purchase scarcely any 
thing at present at this place, but it is expected to be 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 233 

much better next summer. We arrived here last Satur- 
day, but M''. Ellicott has not yet had an answer from 
M"". Armstrong how, or when, he is to receive his pay, but 
he expects to have information soon. 

We found a tolerable good, rough house prepared for 
us, and I believe we shall be very comfortable, when we 
have it in our power to lay in a good winter store. I 
find it is customary for the officers to receive pay for their 
rations, and provide in what way they choose for them- 
selves. Two servants is allowed, but we shall do with 
one, and receive allowance for the other, we intend to 
live in a very frugal way, and I am in hopes, the savings 
of the first year will clear us with M^. Griffith. 

I have not seen any butter since our arrival, but have 
a prospect of some next week. There is four famelies 
at this place, the french teacher has a famely, the ap- 
pointed Doctor has a famely, a widdow Tomson has two 
or three very fine daughters, she boards about thirty 
of the cadets, we have here about njnety soldiers stationed 
and about Ninety kadets, the latter has vacation next 
month untill March, not more than twelve will spend the 
winter here. It really is the most romantic place I ever 
beheld, we have not yet been out of the house it has been 
so very cold, the snow is two inches deep. The thur- 
mometer stood for three days below freezeing point. 
Nancy is with us, but returns in three or four weeks to 
New York. I most sincerely wish you Letty and John 
could spend some time with us next summer, you would 
find soldiers fare and a hearty welcome from your 
affectionate Sister 

Sarah Ellicott." 



234 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

This letter of Mrs. ElKcott's gives a picture, accu- 
rate if slight, of West Point in 1813. The Academy, 
founded in 1802, was, at the time when Major Ellicott 
was appointed to be its professor of mathematics, under- 
going a process of reconstruction, and the choice of 
Andrew Ellicott for its senior professor showed a wise 
realization on the part of those in authority as to 
what would best afford it the desired prestige, lost to 
it during the last few years, by the opposition shown 
toward its progress by William Eustis,^ the Secretary of 
War. 

The duties at the Academy were of a nature such as 
Major Elhcott could thoroughly enjoy; the salary though 
small was adequate, for the family was smaller than it 
had been for some years. Three of his daughters, Jane,^ 
Mary ^ and Sarah ■* had been married before they left 
Lancaster, Letitia ^ and Ann ^ were married while at West 
Point, — of his sons, Andrew ^ the eldest was married 
and hving in Western New York, Joseph ^ and John ^ 
(also away from home) were as yet unmarried as was 
Rachel,^ ° the youngest daughter. Andrew and John both 
saw service in the War of 1812. They were employed 
in the Land Office at Batavia under their Uncle Joseph, 
and when Fort Erie (opposite Buffalo) was besieged by 

* William Eustis was Secretary of War under James Madison from 1809 
until 1812, when he resigned owing to the public dissatisfaction with his 
administration of the affairs of the War Department. 

* Married 1802, T. R. Kennedy. » Married 1801, N. G. Griffiths. 

* Married 1805, Henry Baldwin. * Married 1819, John Bliss. 

• Married 1815, D. B. Douglas. ^ Married 1801, Sarah WilUams. 

• Married 1823, Eliza Sherman. » Married 1822, Helen Griffiths. 

»» Married T. H. Woodruff. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 235 

the British, the two Ellicotts, with the other clerks from 
the Land Office volunteered to aid in its defence. Andrew 
had been commissioned a Captain of Artillery in 1811,^ 
and saw other active service beside the defence of Fort 
Erie. He wrote to his uncle from the camp near the 
Niagara River: 

" December 26^^ 1813, 
" ]VP. Joseph Ellicott ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ r^^^. 

Dear Uncle 

I received your favor of the 24^^ last Evening en- 
closing forty Dollars which will be very convenient. You 
may feel yourselves quite safe in Batavia, the Indians 
have recrossed into Canada, and the British keep close 
quarters in fort Niagara. We have patroling partys in 
Lewiston every day. Yesterday we brought in the dead 
(only two bodys) that remained unburied, one of them 
with his head cut entirely off and cut altopieces, the other 
scalped. The Grave where the British buried our people 
was opened, but the Spectacle that it presented is too 
horrid to relate. Seven bodies were found in the Grave 
among which were old constable Gillett and two sons. . . . 
I am just off the piquet Guard. I have not closed my eyes 
since the day before yesterday and the express is hurry- 
ing me you will therefore excuse blunders. Please to 
inform Sarah that I am well and shall return this week 
if the forces arrive that are expected. 
Your Affectionate 

Nephew And^ A. Ellicott." 

* Andrew A. Ellicott in 1811 was commissioned Captain of the 6th 
Artillery, Niagara County Militia. — Military Minutes of the Council of 
Appointment, published by the State of New York, vol. ii, p. 1224. 



S36 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

This eldest son of Major Ellicott's had much of his 
father's cleverness, much of his endurance and disregard 
of danger. 

Life at West Point went on with the same regularity 
and ease that had characterized the early days at Lan- 
caster. Although now too far from Pliiladelphia to 
attend the meetings of the Philosophical Society, Major 
Ellicott continued to write on scientific subjects, and 
to devote much time to astronomy. Living midway be- 
tween Albany and New York, he had, in both places, 
friends of like interests with his own, and he enjoyed more 
or less intercourse with them and shared in their advan- 
tages for scientific research. 

In 1815 he was elected a member of the " Society for the 
Promotion of Useful Arts " of Albany and was so notified 
by the Secretary of the Society, Dr. T. Romeyn Beck.^ 

In the spring of 1817 he went to Montreal, having 
received an appointment from the Government as Astron- 
omer to the commission then meeting at that place for 
the purpose of carrying into effect some of the articles 
of the Treaty of Ghent. This treaty of peace between 
the United States and Great Britain, signed at Ghent by 
the American and British Commissioners on the 24th of 
December, 1814, and ratified at London by the Prince 

• Theodoric Romeyn Beck, M.D., LL.D., born in 1791, was graduated 
from Union College, Schenectady, at the age of sixteen. In 1815 he was ap- 
pointed Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence at the College of Physicians 
and Siu"geons at Fairfield, New York. He was surgeon of the Rennselaer 
Cavahy in the "War of 1812. From 1817 to 1848 he was Principal of the 
Albany Academy. In 1823 he pubUshed the work on Medical Jurispru- 
dence which has made his name familiar to the medical and legal profession 
both of Europe and the United States. He died in 1855. 














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1 



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c 



^ '•., 







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o ^ 

2 2 

& = 

K 2 

Q a 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 237 

Regent on December 28th of the same year, dealt with 
questions of boundary, as well as with peace and the slave 
trade, and it was for the definite settlement of one of the 
boundaries laid down by the treaty that Major Ellicott 
was appointed to attend the commission as Astronomer 
for the United States. He was directed to make such 
astronomical observations as would determine the forty- 
fifth parallel of latitude. Leave of absence from the 
Military Academy being granted him, he left West Point 
on the 18th of May, and one of the small, closely written 
diaries into wliich so much that was of interest could 
be crowded was begun on that day. 

" May 18*1^ 1817 left West-point in the Paragon, Cap*. 
Rhorebach at I/2 after 12 OClock in the morning, and 
arrived at Albany about 5 OClock p. m. . . . 

19*^. Sent our baggage and instruments in a private 
Waggon for Whitehall. ... 

20th. Left Albany for White-Hall between 5 and 6 
OClock A. M. and arrived at the latter place about 8 
OClock p. M. The road tolerably good except the last 
12 miles which may be considered as bad. We passed many 
towns and villages on the road but the principal are 
Troy, Lansingburgh and Waterford. On the road be- 
tween sandy-hill and White-hall we found a well the water 
of which was 40°. a degree of cold far beyond any thing 
I had before experienced in either spring or well water, . . . 

21^^ . . . From the ages and number of the persons 
recorded on the Tomb and head-stones in the burying 
ground of this place I should be led to believe it an 
unhealthy position, particularly among the children. 



238 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

Our vessels of war used In lake Champlain are lying at 
this village dismantled among them is the La Confiance ^ 
taken by comodore McDonald [«?c]. At 4 OClock p. m. 
set out in the steamboat for S*. John's, passed Tycon- 
deroga just after sundown and Crown-point at 10 OClock. 

22^. Stopped at Burlington about daylight and took 
in wood and a number of passengers :— passed Platsburgh 
about 8 OClock p, m. Rouse's point about noon, the Isle 
aux Noix at 2 OClock and arrived at S^. John's between 
3 and 4 OClock. 

23*^. Got our Instruments and baggage sent on and 
proceeded to La Prairie In the afternoon where we arrived 
before sun-down. Crossed over to the city of Montreal. 

24*^. . . . The City of Montreal far exceeds any Idea 
I had formed of It, In either population, wealth or situa- 
tion. The population Is supposed to amount to about 
20000 persons, a considerable majority of whom are 
french and of the catholic faith. The catholics have three 
Chapels and three nunerles. The largest Chappie was built 
In 1725, and capable of containing 3000 persons. The 
Episcopalians have one church yet unfinished, and the 
Prysbeterlans one meeting house in the same situation. . . . 

25<^^. Sunday. At Montreal. 

26*^. Left Montreal at 2 OClock p. m. In the stage and 
proceeded to the head of the island, thence by a ferry 
to another, and thence to the main land on the north side 
of the River, and from thence up the river to a deep wide 
part called Lake S*. Francis, where we arrived just after 
midnight, and on the morning of the 

* The British frigate Confiance surrendered to Commodore Macdonough 
at the battle of Lake Champlain in 1814. 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 239 

27*^. About 1 OClock a. m. went on board an open 
boat and proceeded to the head of the Lake where we 
arrived about sun-rise, and from thence to calhoun's 
opposite to S*. Regis:- the distance from Montreal to 
Calhouns is estimated at between 80 and 90 miles on this 
rout, part by water and part by land. — this distance 
we passed over in 17 hours without sleeping. After taking 
some refreshments we lay down and slept soundly for 
some hours- In the afternoon joined the Commissions on 
S^ Regis island." 

Of the actual work no record is contained in the diary ; 
it seems to have occupied the space of a month, the next 
entry being 

"July 6*^^ 1817. The object of my journey to this 
place being completed, on the 8^^ we crossed over to the 
north side of the river and ... at 2 OClock p. m. went 
on board Cap*'^ Baldwin's long or Durham boat and 
proceeded down Lake S*. Francis but having no wind 
after 4 OClock p. m. we did not arrive at the lower end, or 
Coteau du lac till 1 OClock on the morning of the 10*^. 
Slept or rather lay in a miserable tavern in dirty blankets, 
early in the morning walked down to the Custom-house 
examined the Locks and military works at the rapids of 
the Coteau du lac. Having concluded contrary to the 
custom of travellers to pass the rapids of the Ceders in 
the boat we went on board and shortly came in sight 
of them, if I had ever seen them before I should have 
went round them by land, but it was now too late, in 
a few minutes we were enveloped by breakers, and spray, 
before us for nearly a mile it looked like decending the 



240 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

side of a hill down wliich the waters were precipitated 
with inconceivable fury, — this rapid was passed in a 
few minutes. A very short time brought us to the second, 
which was soon passed they are said to be the most 
dangerous. At the bottom of this rapid we put ashore 
to view the locks and a canal cutting to the grand river. 
The work is wholy executed by soldiers, the officers acting 
as engineers. Great part of the work is cut thro strati- 
fied stone. . . . 

Having satisfied our curiosity we passed thro the last 
rapid of the Ceders and entered Lake S^. Louis, and pro- 
ceeded to Chateaugay a small Village inhabited by french 
Canadians who furnish pilots for the la Chine rapids and 
to JVIontreal ; being late in the afternoon when we arrived 
at this village we remained in it till the next morning. 

11^^. Passed the la Chine rapids, which are said to be 
the most difficult on the river, and arrived at Montreal 
about ^ after 9 OClock a. m." 

The diary ends abruptly, though the return to West 
Point must have been but a matter of four or five days 
longer at the most. 

The duties at the Academy were growing more than in 
the first years of Major Ellicott's appointment. A greater 
number of cadets were admitted, and his labors were 
consequently increased. He taught his classes Hutton's 
Mathematics, a Compendium of Arithmetic, Logarithms, 
Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Land-surveying and 
Conies. Analytical Trigonometry and Calculus were added 
later, and it became necessary that two young men should 
be added to the staff of instructors to aid him in his 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 241 

work. These two assistants, Charles Davis and Claude 
Crozet, helped materially to lighten his burden. Under 
his direction a somewhat higher standard of work than 
the Academy had heretofore known was established, and 
the entrance examinations were made more difficult, so 
much so, in fact, as to exclude many candidates. 

Major Sylvanus Thayer,^ himself a graduate of the 
i.Lcademy, was in this year appointed to be its super- 
intendent, and under his wise and able administration was 
begun that system of strict regularity and efficiency that 
has ever since been typical of West Point. Major Thayer 
and Major Ellicott were warm friends and entirely at one 
on all matters connected with the building up of the Mili- 
tary Academy, and the maintenance of that high standard 
for which they both labored unceasingly. 

When in 1819 Major Ellicott was once more called 
upon to make further observations for determining the 
forty-fifth parallel of latitude, he left his post, although 
it was only for a short time, with reluctance. A letter 
from the Secretary of State to Major Thayer, request- 
ing a leave of absence for Major Ellicott for the purpose 
of this survey, is dated 

« gj " Washington, 27 May 1819. 

In the absence of the President of the United States ^ 
and the Secretary of War ^ and having been requested 

* Major Sylvanus Thayer, was born at Braintree, Mass., in 1785. He 
was Superintendent of the Mihtary Academy, of which he was a graduate, 
from 1817-1833. He was constructing engineer of the defences of Boston 
Harbor from 1833-1857. He died at Braintree in 1871. 

' In the summer of 1819 President Monroe was making a tour through 

the New England and Northern States. 

' John C. Calhoun. 

16 



242 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

by the latter with the President's approbation, to per- 
form any duty properly belonging to the Head of that 
Department, for which a special occasion might arise, I 
have to request your assent that Mr. Ellicott may have 
permission of absence from West Point, to assume the 
duties of astronomer on the part of the United States to 
the Commission under the fifth article of the Treaty of 
Ghent. 

I am Sir respectfully your obedient and 

very humble Servant 

John Quincy Adams.'* 

There is no journal of this survey, the only family 
papers concerning it being the following letters to Mrs. 
Elhcott : 

« My dear Sally " A^^-^^' J^^^ 2^''^' ^^^^- 

We arrived here the day before yesterday . . . but the 
instruments did not arrive in time to have them sent off 
to day, we shall therefore be detained here till Monday the 
ggth — jf j^Q accident should happen we will reach Bur- 
lington next Wednesday night. 

I disliked leaving home extremely, . . . but having done 
it, I feel much better reconciled than I thought possible 
when I parted with you at our gate. 

Since I came here, I have had much conversation with 
my old friend, and astronomical companion S. De Witt, 
surveyor gen^ of this State, who is a man of science, and 
a good practical astronomer : he informs me, that he spent 
several days with M^. Hastier and the British astronomer 
on the boundary last summer ; but could not entirely com- 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 243 

prehend the nature of their operations, and (between our- 
selves), he assured me that as far as he could comprehend 
them, they appeared better calculated for expense than 
accuracy. 

Give my comphments to Major Thayer, — you know 
my opinion of his worth. . . . 
I am my dear Sally 

your affectionate husband 

And"^. Ellicott." 

" Burlington, State of Vermont. July Sl^t, 1819. 
" My dear Sally 

We arrived here on the 29^^ ... (in the midst of a 
heavy fall of rain), and put up at the house where the 
British Astronomer ^ resides— Yesterday I sent M^ Tuttle 
down the Lake with our Instruments, and shall follow him 
in the next steamboat, which is expected to pass this place 
about one OClock tomorrow morning. 

M^. Hastier has taken away every instrument with 
which he was furnished by the government to determine 
the boundary, this he done contrary to the opinion of our 
Commissioner M^. Van Ness: By this conduct of M^. 
Hastier, we should have been without any instruments this 
season had I not fortunately brought on my own. 

So far I have experienced no fatigue whatever, my 
young men cannot say as much, and it appears to me that 
they could preform the labourious duty of sleeping eigh- 
teen hours out of 24, if not interrupted. 

As to our business I can say nothing at present, and 
candidly confess that I do not yet comprehend the method 

» Dr. J. L. Tiark. 



244. ANDREW ELLICOTT 

pursued by the British astronomer and M*". Hastier, it 
is different from anything I have yet seen or heard of, 
not more than one observation in ten can possibly be 
applied to the boundary,— those that can are probably 
good, but their mode of calculation is labourious in the 
extreme. . . . 

I am, my dear Sally, 

Your Affectionate husband 

And"^ Ellicott." 

Having directed the survey, and remained in the field 
as long as his actual presence was necessary to the accu- 
racy of the work, Major Ellicott left it in the hands of 
his assistant, Mr. Tuttle, and returned to his duties at 
the Academy, to take up the fall and winter work, as well 
as the pursuits which were his pleasure. 

There was throughout the succeeding winter and spring 
no hint, no intimation, that the useful and honored career 
was drawing to its close, nothing to warn his family that 
but a few months remained of the active, vigorous hfe. 
He went to his classes and his studies able and strong to 
meet the duties of each day. The summer of 1820 came 
and found all things tranquil and well with him. There 
was no illness to be borne, no abating of his vigor, no 
lessening of the interest which all his life long he had 
taken in everything, great or small, which in any way 
promoted knowledge, or advanced philosophy and science, 
or affected the welfare and progress of his country. On 
the 25th of August, 1820, he was stricken with apoplexy, 
wliile returning from a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Griffith, 
in New York, and in spite of all that the best medical 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 245 

attendance could do to relieve or save him, he died three 
days later, at his home at West Point. The sad news is 
briefly told in a letter from his son-in-law, Mr. Griffith, to 
another son-in-law. Captain David B. Douglass, the hus- 
band of his daughter Ann: 

,, , , o " West Point, August 28*^, 1820. 

" My dear Sir, * 

I have a most painful duty to perform. Our dear good 
Father Ellicott, was taken on board the Steam Boat, (on 
his return from my house in New York) on Friday morn- 
ing last with a stroke of appoplexy occasioned as we sup- 
pose by irregular Gout. A Medical Gentleman on board 
immediately did everything proper for his restoration, he 
was taken home from the dock apparently sensible but 
unable to speak. A dispatch was sent for M'"^ G. and 
myself who fortunately arrived at the moment the Steam 
boat was setting off on Saturday evening, we arrived at 11 
OClock & found him in a situation to preclude all hope 
of recovery, nevertheless everything that skill & tender- 
ness could devise was afforded without the wished for effect : 
he died this morning (Monday) 1/2 past 12 OClock & will 
be intered tomorrow afternoon. I am surrounded by 
affliction which added to my own is beyond expression. 
I am D^. Sir 

Yours Affectionately 

N. C. Griffith." 

That his death was felt to be a loss to the country is 
evidenced by the wide regret for that loss expressed in the 
periodicals of the day. His talents, his honesty of pur- 



246 ANDREW ELLICOTT 

pose and liis worth as a citizen, no less than as a scientist 
of briniance, were acknowledged and lamented. 

The best commentary on the work to which his life was 
devoted is the fact that, in almost every instance, his 
surveys endure to-day, accepted and uncorrected. This 
is the more remarkable when one remembers his crude in- 
struments, made and mended for the most part by himself, 
which made accuracy so difficult, and would have made it, 
with less painstaking methods than his, almost impossible. 

Andrew Elllcott hved In what has been truly called the 
critical period of American history, and, entirely apart 
from the mathematical side of it, his work was more than 
once a part of that history. To personal comfort or per- 
sonal ambitions he seemed to give no thought, all his in- 
terests, outside of his immediate family, centred on the 
furtherance of scientific knowledge, and the faithful per- 
formance of whatever duties were intrusted to him. 

And when the last work was done, the last letter written, 
the last diary closed, It was clearly shown that he had 
held by the true and honest principles of his youth to the 
very close of his life. He did his work faithfully and well 
always, often he did it with a cleverness and a success very 
far above the average. He loved his children and his 
home, he loved his wife more than all. He was a loyal 
friend, and one generous of kindly deeds and appreciative 
words to those who made his circle. He was a good citizen 
and a patriot in the truest sense, and too often, as has 
been seen, for the services he rendered to his country he 
received no tangible return. He was a scientist and an 
astronomer of genius, and had he possessed the leisure 
and the means requisite for a life of devotion to science 



ANDREW ELLICOTT 247 

there is no doubt that his name would have been written 
in the country's history in brilliant letters. 

It is impossible to read the simple, earnest record of his 
life and not see that here was one of the men to whom the 
furtherance of the country's progress was in part in- 
trusted. One of the men of whom she did well to be proud, 
for in the early days of America's growth, or now, amid 
the greater questions of her civic life, or in any conditions 
of national life that may confront her in the future, her 
need has been and will always be, that her sons shall have 
those sterling qualities, — love of country, love of home, 
love of truth, — which will enable them to meet and solve 
her problems, and her cry is always the same, a brief de- 
mand but a very comprehensive one — 

" Give us men! " 

It was in answer to this cry that Andrew Ellicott and 
the men of his generation stepped forward. Such prob- 
lems as were set before them they worked out satisfac- 
torily and well, and the clear and honest record of their 
lives holds this promise for the country's future, — that 
while her need of them endures, the men to meet that need 
will not fail throughout the land. 



INDEX 



INDEX 



Abbot, Mr., 109 
Adams, John Quincy, 241-242 
Adams, John, 196 
Albany, 236, 237, 242 
Alexandria, 82, 83, 84, 87-89 
Allegheny River, 64-69, 110, 124, 141 
Almanac, see United States Abnanack 
American Philosophical Society, 8, 

55, 80, 131, 145, 196, 201, 202, 219, 

236 
Anderson, Mr., 181 
Andrews, Robert, 18, 22, 24, 27 
Annakostia, 97 
Apalachy (Fort St. Mark's), 172, 179, 

183, 191 
Appalachicola River, 129 
Armstrong, Mr., 233 

Baldwin, Captain, 239 

Henry, 234 

Ball, WiUiam, 185 
Baltimore, 10, 16, 27, 55, 132 
Baltimore Academy, 55 
Baltimore and Fredericksburg Turn- 
pike, 11 
Banneker, Benjamin, 86 
"Banneker School," 86 
Barlow, Joel, 139 
Barnwell, Doctor, 203 
Barton, Doctor, 41 

William, 58 

Bartram, William, 170 

Batavia, 234 

Bayou, Pierre, 148, 152 

St. John's, 166 

Sarah, 154, 155 

Beck, Theodoric Romeyn, 236 
Beeson, Jacob, 23, 26, 35 
Beeson Town, 18, 32, 33, 35, 37 
Belle Prae, 138 
Bleaker, Judith, 7 

Samuel, 7 

Blennerhassett's Island, 138 
Bliss, John, 234 



Bornet, Isaac, 76 

Bowles, Wilham A, 170, 173-176, 

179, 183, 184, 193, 203 
Brandt, Joseph, 71 
Breckenridge, Mr., 201 L 

Briggs, Mr., 85, 97-98, 100, 105 
Brown, Jacob, 11, 94 

John, 161 

Sarah, 11 

Brownfield, INIajor, 39 
Browns, Jonathan, 76 
Bruin, Judge, 160, 165 

Miss., 165 

Buffalo Creek, 75, 114, 115, 117 
Buffalo Historical Society, 107 
Burgess, Mr., 109, 110 
Burlington, Vt., 238, 243 
Burns, Captain, 182 
Burr, Aaron, 214 
Bush Town, 56 
Butler, Colonel Walter, 71, 73 
Bye, Ann, 6 

Calhoun, John C, 241 
Campbell, General, 170 

Mrs., 38 

Canada, boundary between U. S. 

and, 236-242 
Canedesaga, 105 
Cape Sable, 181 
Carlisle, 109-110 
Carroll, Daniel, 83, 92 
Carrollsburg, 87 

Chapin, Israel, 72, 75, 76, 114, 115 
Chapman, Thomas, 134 
Charleston, S. C, 180, 219 
Chautauqua Lake, 65 
Chemung, 62 
Chester, Pa., 132 
Chickasaw Bluffs, 146 
Clmstiana, 132 
Cincinnati, 140, 161 

Society of the, 110 

Clark, George Rogers, 139 



252 



INDEX 



Clarke, Lieutenant, 75 
Clinton, George, 55 

James, 55, 56 

Coast Survey, 228 
Cochran, Mr., 201 
Conawango River, 63, 65, 113, 117, 

124, 125 
Condorcet, Secretary, 86 
Connecticut claimants, 62 
Cooper, Judge, 219 

jVIt., 24 

Creek nation, 167 
Cresap, Colonel, 34 

Michael, 136 

Cross, Mr., 48 
Crown Point, 237 
Crozet, Claude, 241 
Cumberland, 34 

Id., 194, 195 

Cumberland River, 141 
Cumberland road, 10 

Dallas, A. J., 112 
Darhng's Creek, 160 
Daughertie, Mr., 26 ?: 

Da\adson, Mr., 102 
Davis, Captain, 192 

Charles, 241 

Day, Jeremiah, 207 

Dayton, Mr. 153 

De Aviles, Don Pedro Malendez, 191 

De Brahm, , 72 

De Carondelet, Baron, 150, 151, 155, 

161, 162, 166 
De Godoi, Don Manuel, 127, 128 
De Lalande, Joseph, Jerome le Fran- 

9ais, 207, 210 
Delambre, Jean Baptiste Joseph, 207 
Delaware River, 60-64 
Dennis, Mr., 101 
Denny, Captain, 113, 117, 118 
De Witt, Simeon, 55, 57, 59, 107, 

242 
Dickinson, John, 32 
Dinwiddle, Governor, 121 
District of Columbia, 82 
Dixon, Jeremiah, 18 
Doan, Abraham, 16 

Hetty, 16 

Doddsworth, Miss, 49 
Donaldson, Mr., 200 
Dorchester, Lord, 73, 75 
Douglas, David B., 234, 245 
Mrs. David B, 216 



Drake, Sir Francis, 191 

Dunbar, William, 145, 158, 159, 202 

Elkkidge battalion, 11-13 

Elkton, 132 

Ellicott, Andrew (1754-1820). Bnth, 
7; marriage, 11; mihtary ser- 
vice, 11; as a Quaker, 12; pub- 
lishes an almanac, 13-15 ; receives 
degree of M. A., 19; legisla- 
tive service, 55; his correspond- 
ents, 206-207; difficulties about 
his pay, 205-206, 226; appoint- 
ment to West Point, 229; death, 
245 

Surveys : Virginia-Pennsylvania 
boundary, 18-29 ; Pennsylvania- 
Ohio boundary, 32^9; Pennsyl- 
vania-New York boundary, 55-69 ; 
Islands in Ohio and Alleghany 
rivers, 69 ; Pennsylvania-New York 
western boundary, 70-79; Dis- 
trict of Columbia, 83-105; Pre- 
emption hne, Phelps and Gorham 
Surchase, 105-107; road from 
Leading to Presqu'Isle [Erie], 
107-126 ; Florida boundary, 127- 
198 ; Georgia-North Carolina 
boundary, 218-226 ; United States 
and Canada boundary, 236-244 

Mrs. Andrew, 14, 16, 17, 19- 

20, 31, 37, 42-47, 49, 58-60, 61-63, 
65-67, 76-77, 83-84, 89-91, 93, 
94-95, 98-100, 116, 118-119, 120- 
121, 123-126, 137, 152, 158-159, 
160, 164, 165-166, 169-170, 176- 
180, 190-191, 194-195, 199, 200- 
204, 204-205, 231, 233, 234, 242- 
244 

Andrew A., 108, 110, 123, 126, 

143, 158, 205, 208, 209, 210, 234, 
235 

Ann (Nancy), 216, 220, 234, 

245 

Benjamin, 69, 70, 76, 78, 86, 

105 

George, 31 

Jane, 124, 165, 200, 202, 205, 

234 

John (1739-1795), 10 

John, 216, 233, 234 

Joseph (1732-1780), 6-10 

• Joseph (1760-1826), 33, 41, 42, 

44, 70, 72, 76, 78, 105, 160, 207, 



INDEX 



253 



208-209, 215, 218-219, 230-231, 

232-233, 234, 235 
Ellicott, Letitia, 233, 234 

Mary, 199, 234 

Rachel, 220, 234 

Sally, 200, 234 

Ellicott's Mills, 10, 11, 27, 33, 43, 

215 
Erie Canal, 55 
Erie, Lake, 32, 65, 66, 67, 68, 71, 

78-118 
Erie, Pa., 113 
Eustis, William, 234 
Evans, Joseph, 210 

Mr., 110 

Ewing, John, 19, 50, 52, 55. 57 

FEiroacK, Mr., 85, 105 

Fish Creek, 19-40 

Fitch, John, 53 

Flint River, 171, 176, 188 

Florida, 127, 128 

boundary between U. S. and, 

131-197 
Folch, Governor, 168, 169, 172 
Forbes, Mr., 171 
" Fountainvale," 10 
Fox Point, 172, 173 
Franklin, Benjamin, 3, 50, 53, 55, 69, 

70, 187, 188, 197, 201, 207 

Fort, 113, 115, 125 

Pa., 113 

Frederica, 188 
Frederick Town, 26, 33 
Freeman, Mr., 160, 164 
French Creek, 113, 121 
French language, 209, 216 
Freshwater River, 186 

Gallatin, Albert, 207, 228 
Gallipolis, 139 
Galvez, Governor, 167, 170 
Gayoso de Lemos, Manuel, 148- 

156, 159-163, 165 
"Gazette of the United States," 87 
Genesseo River, 64, 75 
Geneva, 105, 106 
Geographer General, 199 
Georgetown, 82, 85, 86, 87-89, 98, 

99, 204 
Georgia boundary, 218-226 
Germantown, 82 
Gibson, Colonel, 28 
GiUespie, Mr.. 158, 160. 168. 180 



Gillett, Constable, 235 
Goldsmith, Doctor, 43 
Gorham, Nathaniel, 105 
Graff, Billy, 200, 201 

Kittie, 200 

Grave Creek, 42, 136 
Grant, Ulysses S., 138 
Greathouse, Harman, 136 
Green, Major-General, 195 

Mr., 94 

Greensburg, 134 
Griffiths, Helen, 234 

Mrs., 199, 209, 244, 245 

N. C, 232-234, 245 

Guion, Captain, 75, 156 
Gwyn, Mr., 34, 35 

Hagebstown, 26, 34 
Hale, Edward Everett, 144 
Hamilton, Alexander, 207 
Hammel, Doctor, 141 
Hancock's Town, 25 
Hand, General, 52 
Hannah, Mr., 154 
Hardenbergh, Abraham, 61 
Harmar, Colonel, 52 
Harrisburgh, 109 
Harrison, William Henry, 140 
Harriss, Lieutenant Colonel, 73, 75, 

76 
Hart, Captain, 65 

Colonel, 34 

Hartford, Md., 132 

Harvard College, 19 

Hastier, Mr., 242-244 

Havre de Grace, 132 

Hawkins, Benjamin, 167-169, 174, 

176 

Billy, 200 

Head of Elk, 49, 54 
Hockhocking, Little, River, 138 
Holland, Major, 72 
Hoops, Adam, 89, 110 
Howard, Colonel, 147 
Hughes, Daniel, 28 
Humboldt, Baron de, 214 
Hunting Creek, 84 
Hutchins, Thomas, 19 
Hutchinson and McMurry, 72 

Illinois River, 162 

"Indian Willy," 171 

Irvine, William, 107, 110, 111, 123 

Irwin, John, 134 



^A- 



254 



INDEX 



-s^ 



K 



^ 



Jackson's Fort, 40 

Jay's Treaty, 124 

Jefferson, Thomas, 8, 18, 83-88, 92, 
96, 97, 99, 112, 196, 201, 202, 204, 
207, 210, 212-214, 216 

Jenkins, Mary, 52 

Mr., 106 

Johnson, General Thomas, 83, 92 

Governor, 11 

Jones, Mr., 201 

Journal of x^ndrew EUicott, on Flor- 
ida boundary, 131-197 

Kanawha, Great, River, 138 

Little, River, 138 

Kennedy, Thomas Ruston, 124, 234 
Kentucky, 129, 139, 161, 162 
Key, Biscanio, 186 

Philip, 170 

Vaccas, 182 

Lacey, General, 53 
Lackasang, Mr., 161 
Lake Ontario, 71, 76, 78, 106 
Lancaster, 61, 206, 208-210, 213 

214, 215, 216, 220, 230 
Land-Office, Fenn., 206 
Lansingburgh, 237 
Lay, Mr., 222 
Lebanon, 109 
Le Boeuf, 67, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 

117, 118, 120, 121 
L'Enfant, Pierre Charles, 83, 85, 87- 

93, 100-102 
Lenox, Major, 54 

Mrs., 54 

Lewis, Andrew, 138 

■ Colonel, 138 

Enoch, 108 

Meriwether, 212-214, 228 

Mr., 110 

Lewis and Clark Expedition, 213-214 

Livingston, Robert R., 207, 210, 211 

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 129 

Louisiana, 144 

Louisville, 140 

Lukens, John, 19, 54 

Lynch, Captain, 220, 221, 223 

Magellan, Doctor, 50 
McClaries, Colonel, 24 
Macdonough, Commodore, 238 
McKean, Governor, 206, 208, 214, 
217 



McLane, Colonel, 37 

Mrs., 37 

McLean, Alexander, 49 

"Mad Dog," 168 

Madison, Bishop James, 12, 207 

James, 17, 19, 207, 218, 229, 

234 

INlrs., 218 

Marietta, 137 

Maryland Historical Society, 86 

Maryland legislature, election of 

Andrew ElUcott to, 55 
Mason and Dixon Line, 15, 16, 24, 

60 
Massac, Fort, 141, 143, 144, 145 
Matacombe, 182, 183, 184 
Matanza Is., 183 
Maxant, Colonel, 168 
Maxwell, Hugh, 106 

Mr., 146 

Mexico, 162 

Mifflin, Thomas, 70, 107, 112, 114- 

116-118, 120 
Milledgeville, Ga., 226 
Minor, Captain, 160, 168, 194, 195 

Major, 160 

Mississippi River, 127, 128, 129, 132, 

135, 143, 145, 155, 162, 197 
Missouri River, 212 
Mitchell, D. W., 220 

Doctor, 200 

George, 26 

Mobile, 167-171 
Monocacy River, 10, 33 
Monongahela River, 110, 141 
Moiu-oe, James, 229, 241 
Montreal, 236, 238, 240 
Moore, Colonel, 192 
Morris, Robert, 105, 106, 207 

• Wilham, 61 

Mountain, Mr., 26, 27, 35 
Mount Vernon, 87 
Mount Welcome, 14 
Murphey, William, 47 
Murray, Mr., 161 

Nassau, Ont., 72 

Natchez, 129, 130, 144, 148, 149- 

161, 195, 196, 202 
National Institute of France, 214, 

219 
Ne\il, Colonel, 35, 39, 40 
New Madrid, 144, 145, 146 
New Mexico, 162 



INDEX 



255 



New Orleans, 129-142, 151, 156, 157, 

163, 164-165, 183 
Ne^vion, Sir Isaac, 203 
New York, 199, 225, 232, 233, 244, 

245 
New York, University of State of, 55 

southern boundary, 55-69 

western boundary, 70-79 

Niagara, 71, 72, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 
Nolan, Philip, 144, 145, 147, 151 
North CaroUna boundary, 218-226 

Obeal, Captain, 113, 114 
Oglethorpe, General, 188, 192 
Ohio River, 32, 33, 37, 46, 49. 69, 

110, 132, 141, 142, 143 
Old Town, 25, 34 
Okefonoke Swamp, 192, 193, 194 

Page, John, 18, 19 

Panton, Laslie, Forbes & Company, 

167, 171 

Mr., 171, 175, 184 

Patapsco River, 10, 33, 132 
Patrick, Peter, 37 
Patterson, Mr., 202 

Robert, 7, 8, 50, 60, 131, 207 

Peale, Mr., 200 

Pennsylvania, northern boundary, 

55-69 

• north-western boundary, 70-79 

southern boundary, 18-29 

State telescope, 2i7-218 

■ surveys of islands in Ohio and 

Alleghany rivers for, 69 
surveys for road from Reading 

to Erie, 107-126 

University of, 8 

western boundary, 32-49 

Pensacola, 166, 167, 169, 171 
Phelps and Gorham, 70, 105, 106 
Philadelphia, 49, 56, 61, 69, 82, 108, 

130, 196, 199-203, 219 
Pickering, Timothy, 61, 62, 129, 160, 

190, 196, 207, 216, 228 
Pike, Zebulon Montgomery, 141 
Pinckney, Godoy Treaty, 127-129, 

174 

Thomas, 127-129 

Pittsburg, 35, 110, 111, 112, 120, 123, 

125, 126, 131, 132, 134, 135, 141 
Pittsylvania, Va., 220 
Plattsburg, N. Y., 238 
Point Peter, 189, 190, 192 



Point Pleasant, 138 
Portel, Madame, 179 

Mr., 179 

Porter, Andrew, 21, 32, 49, 57, 61, 63, 

64, 67, 68 

Augustus, 106, 107 

John A., 88 

Pottsgrove, 109 

Power, Mr., 161 

Presqu'isle, 67, 70, 77, 78, 105, 107, 

112, 113, 116, 117, 118-120, 122- 

125 
Priestley, Doctor, 3, 200, 202, 207, 

211 

Quakers, 11, 12 
Quebec, 75 
Quito, 162 

Randolph, Governor, 53 

Rankin, Mr., 143 

Ransom, John, 189 

Reading, 107, 109 

Rhorebach, Captain, 237 

Rittenhouse, David, 3, 12, 19, 21, 32, 
33, 36, 38, 42, 47-51, 53, 56, 57, 60, 
67-69, 107, 197, 201, 207 

Elizabeth, 51 

Ester, 51 

Roberts, Jonathan, 219 

Roth, John C, 25 

Rouse's Point, 238 

Rumford, Count, 211, 212 

Rush, Benjamin, 79, 177, 196, 201, 
207 

St. Augustine, 191 

St. George's Sound, 172 

St. John's, 237, 238, 240 

St. Marks, Fort, see Apalachy 

St. Mary's River, 180-183, 185, 188, 

189, 192, 193, 194, 195 
St. Regis Island, 238, 239 
St. Simon's, 188 
Sandy Creek, 139 
Sandy Key, 182 

Sargent, Winthrop, 140, 160, 207 
Savannah, Ga., 194-196, 225 
Saxton, Frederick, 70, 76 
Scioto Company, 139 
Seaton, George, 24 

Widow, 24, 39 

Sebastion, Judge, 161 
Seneca Lake, 103 



25Q 



Shanaug, 59 
Sherman, Eliza, 234 
Shippensburg, Md., 133 
Simpkins, Mr., 28 
Simpson, Mr., 110 
Smith, Hugh, 26 
Snyder, Simon, 214, 217 _ 
"Society for the Promotion of Use- 
ful Arts," 236 
Solesbury, Pa., 7 
Spain, Treaty with, 127-129 
Spalding, Captain, 63 
Stoystown, 110-134 
Strasburg, 110 
Stuart, Da\id, 83, 91, 92 
Sturgeon, Captain Cornelius, 62 
Sullivan, General, 89 

John, 76 

Surveyor General, 204, 205 
Susquehannah River, 56, 59, 63, 132 

Tampa Bay, 181 
Tennessee River, 141 
Thayer, Sylvanus, 241, 243 
Thompson, Colonel, 86 
Tiark, J. L., 243 
Ticonderoga, 237 
Tioga River, 56, 58, 60 
Tittle, Mr., 27 
Todd, Mr., 26, 49 
Treaty of Ghent, 236 
Troy, 237 
Tuttle, Mr., 243, 244 

United States Almanack, 13-15 
United States, boundaries, see Can- 
ada, Florida 
Usher and Donaldson, 46, 47 

Van Ness, Mr., 243 
Vaughn, Samuel, 52, 55 
Venango, 65, 111, 112, 117, 126 
Virginia, northern boundary, 18-29 



INDEX flH^^^l 

Wabash RiVEH, 141, 144 y^yijH^, ^ 
Walnut HiUs, 147, 148, 15^ f ^T^ 
Warren, Pa., 113, 124 //»' ' 

Washington, D. C, 9a, 93, 97, 103, 

George, 12, 55,>82, 83, 87, 89, 

91, 93, 94, 99, 100-103, 121, 1^, 

129, 185, 191 

Lady, 90, 91, 94 

Waterford, N, Y., 237 

Pa., 113, 116 

Webster, Mr., 61 
Well, Charles, 44, 45, 134 
Wemms, Rev. Mr., 222 
West, Doctor, 59 

Mr., 37, 44, 59 

Parson, 43 

West Point, 229, 230, 232, 234, 237- 

241, 244, 245 
Wheeling, 136 
White, William, 55 
Whitehall, 237 
Wilkens, John, Jr., 107 
Wilkins, General, 113, 115 
Wilkinson, General, 135, 140, 156, 

160, 161, 162, 215, 218 
Williamsburg, 25 
William and Mary College, 17, 18, 

19, 25 
Williams, Sarah, 234 
Will's Creek, 25 
Wilmington, 56-132 
Wilson, Judge, 219 
Winchester, 25 
Wistar, Caspar, 207 
Womoldorph's Town, 109 
Woodruff, T. H., 234 
Woods, George, 110 
Woolbridge, James, 172-173 
Wooldridge, Lieutenant, 183, 184 
Wyoming, 61, 76 

Young, Doctor, 28 



APR 30 1908 






APR 25 1908 



